Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

[Pat Bremkamp]

I have a UX with dropdown lists that I use to move files around. Each dropdown shows the files in a particular directory which I get using filefind.get(). The pics show the problem. I select a file in the first pic and click "move". This does an ajax callback that copies the file to the new directory, then removes it from the old directory.

vFileFrom = vPath+chr(92)+"NFNWIP"+chr(92)+e._currentRowDataNew.WIPFILES
vFileTo = vPath+chr(92)+"Inspection"+chr(92)+e._currentRowDataNew.WIPFILES
file.copy(vFileFrom,vFileTo)
file.remove(vFileFrom)

then, I refresh the directories

vWIP = filefind.get(vPath+chr(92)+"NFNWIP\*.*",FILE_FIND_NOT_DIRECTORY,"N")
if vWIP = ""
vWIP = "No files found"
end if
vWIP = js_list_to_array(vWIP)
WIPjs = "{dialog.Object}.populateDropdownBox('WIPFILES',"+vWIP+",true);"

The file is moved and shows in the new directory, but it still also shows in the old directory even though it is not there.

Seems that, as long as the file is selected, the populate... continues to show it. Selecting a different file, I can then refresh with the populate... function and it disappears.

So, how can I change the "selected" file or set selected to none in the dropdown before doing the populate... step?

Capture1.PNGCapture2.PNGCapture3.PNG

[RichCPT]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Wow, it looks like the wiki does not give proper examples of that populateDropdownBox: http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/~alpha...downBox+Method

Looks like their examples don't include a proper array syntax for the second parameter.

Anyway, Pat when you run the code are you perhaps having windows explorer browser the source folder. I have found just having Windows explorer open and with a file selected, even though the preview window is off, that it maintains some sort of lock on the file and that you cannot do certain things with the file using another program.

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Thanks Rich,
I used one of the videos to get the parameters for the function.
Unfortunately, the windows explorer browser is not being used. Any other ideas?

[RichCPT]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Those listboxes don't look like dropdown boxes. For a 'list' control would it be better to use the 'populate()' function of a list control?


var listObj = {dialog.object}.getControl('LIST1');
var _d = [
{firstname: 'John', lastname: 'Smith'},
{firstname: 'Fred', lastname: 'Harris'}
]
listObj.populate(_d);

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

I tried using list controls instead of dropdown boxes, but had trouble getting the value of the selected file to use in the callbacks. I need to use Xbasic in order to get the list of files in the directory and to move and remove the files, along with uploading (user defined) and downloading. Those are server side activities. There are no tables used in this; the dropdowns are populated initially from variables, then updated when things change using this populateDropDown... functions.

I need the javascript to remove or change the selection so I can update the screen.

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Wow, it looks like the wiki does not give proper examples of that populateDropdownBox: http://wiki.alphasoftware.com/~alpha...downBox+Method

Looks like their examples don't include a proper array syntax for the second parameter.

It does not have a proper example. Here's your proper examples:

//Populate the choices in the Dropdown Box for the 'COMPANY' field. Add the new choices to the existing choices.
{dialog.Object}.populateDropdownBox('COMPANY',['A2','B2','C2'],false);

//Populate the choices in the Dropdown Box for the 'COMPANY' field. Replace the existing choices. Each new choice that is added has both a display and stored value.
{dialog.Object}.populateDropdownBox('COMPANY',[['alpha 2','A2'],['beta 2','B2'],['display for c','C2']],true);

The wiki is interpreting the array brackets as a web link --- le sad. I have sent in several reports about this (I think? Maybe I'm hallucinating this one...)

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

I tried using list controls instead of dropdown boxes, but had trouble getting the value of the selected file to use in the callbacks. I need to use Xbasic in order to get the list of files in the directory and to move and remove the files, along with uploading (user defined) and downloading. Those are server side activities. There are no tables used in this; the dropdowns are populated initially from variables, then updated when things change using this populateDropDown... functions.

I need the javascript to remove or change the selection so I can update the screen.

Couldn't you just call {dialog.object}.setValue("LIST","") to change the selection?

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Sarah,

Thanks for your suggestion. That makes perfect sense. I've just tried it using
{dialog.Object}.setValue('WIPFILES','');{dialog.Object}.populateDropdownBox('WIPFILES',"+vWIP+",true);
but there was no change... maybe there is a timing issue?
Isn't there some sort of "do this then that" or timeout kind of thingy?

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Sarah,

Thanks for your suggestion. That makes perfect sense. I've just tried it using
{dialog.Object}.setValue('WIPFILES','');{dialog.Object}.populateDropdownBox('WIPFILES',"+vWIP+",true);
but there was no change... maybe there is a timing issue?
Isn't there some sort of "do this then that" or timeout kind of thingy?

Do you have code that you call when the client changes their selection in the dropdown list control?

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Thanks for sticking with me on this.

No, there is no code that runs when the selection changes. All the code runs in Ajax callbacks and the Javascript is called by putting the javascript into the callback function name.

I use callbacks because, in addition to moving values on the screen, I am moving files on the server.

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Thanks for sticking with me on this.

No, there is no code that runs when the selection changes. All the code runs in Ajax callbacks and the Javascript is called by putting the javascript into the callback function name.

I use callbacks because, in addition to moving values on the screen, I am moving files on the server.

Not a problem!

I did a bit of digging around (http://stackoverflow.com/questions/3...-multiple-sele). I think the issue lies somewhere on Alpha's end. It's trying to restore the selected value after repopulating the dropdown boxes.

If you add this little line *after* you call populateDropdownBox, it should clear things up (I tested it!) If you call it before, populateDropdownBox selects the first option in the list. Or the empty space beyond the end.

$('{dialog.componentName}.V.R1.WIPFILES').options.selectedIndex = -1;

See attached example! You'll have to replace my hard-coded file names, but you get the idea.
---
Sarah

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

PS: Ignore the code errors you may find

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

AAAAALLLLSSSOOOOO, I figured out Alpha was restoring the selected value/index by looking at the code in Google Chrome. If you type in a function without the () stuff in the console window, Chrome prints the contents of the function:

> DLG1_DlgObj.populateDropdownBox
< function (columnName,data,clearExisting) {
		var curData = '';
		var ele = this._getControlLow(columnName);
		if(ele) {
			curData = this.getValue(columnName);
			A5.form.populateSelect(ele,curData,data,clearExisting);
		}
	} 
> A5.form.populateSelect
< function (eleId,currValue,data,clearExistingEntries) {
	//call old function if clearExistingEntries is a string, not a boolean
	if(typeof clearExistingEntries == 'string') {
		a5_AJAX_Form_populateSelect(eleId,currValue,data,clearExistingEntries);
		return false;
	}
	var ele = $(eleId);
	var currIndex = 0;
	if(clearExistingEntries) {
		if(ele.options.length > 0) {
			for(var i = ele.options.length -1; i >= 0; i--) ele.options[i] = null;
			ele.options[0] = null;
		}
	} else currIndex = ele.options.length;
	for(var i =0; i < data.length; i++) {
		if(data[i].constructor == Array) {
			if(data[i].length > 1) {
				ele.options[currIndex] = new Option(data[i][0],data[i][1]);	
			} else {
				ele.options[currIndex] = new Option(data[i][0],data[i][0]);
			}
		} else {
			ele.options[currIndex] = new Option(data[i],data[i]);
		}
		currIndex++;
	}
	var optionFound = false;
	if(ele.options.length > 0) {
		for(var i = 0; i < ele.options.length; i++) {
			if(ele.options[i].value == currValue) {
				optionFound = true;
				ele.options.selectedIndex = i;
				break;
			}
		}
		if(optionFound == false) {
			ele.options[ele.options.length] = new Option(currValue,currValue);
			ele.options.selectedIndex = ele.options.length -1;
		}
	}
}

[Pat Bremkamp]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Sarah,

Thanks for the code. That is much better.
I find that the file name is remaining, but it is not selected, so it will disappear just by clicking "refresh". Much more intuitive.

[TheSmitchell]

Re: Problem with selected item in refreshing dropdown

Sarah,

Thanks for the code. That is much better.
I find that the file name is remaining, but it is not selected, so it will disappear just by clicking "refresh". Much more intuitive.

If the filename lingers, you may want to do selectedIndex = -1 twice (once before the populateDropdownBox call and one after; or just call {dialog.object}.setValue('FIELD','',false) before the populate.) The populateDropdownBox process gets the current value of the element, repopulates the choices, and then flagrantly violates the "do nothing" rule by adding the old current value back to the list if it doesn't exist! In my tests, both lists updated properly. But, it's possible that I *thought* I tested it with just the call after populate but actually didn't (because at one point, I was doing selectedIndex = -1 twice.)

At any rate, glad I could help out! I learned quite a bit about FILEFIND during this exercise. :D