List with detail view set initial values

[Lance Gurd]

Slowly changing over to lists with detail views, think they are great.

However several of the fields need to have initial values set (some to argument values). Setting the default value in the field properties works until the new record button is pressed, I am thinking that adding some javascript to the click event for the new record button would be the answer, but cannot find a way of setting a javascript variable to the value of an argument. Anyone know how?

[Lance Gurd]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Got this to work by setting state variables to the argument values in the onDialogInitialize server side event, then used javascript to set the initial value of the control from the new record button.

[westridge]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

I came to the same conclusion. The default value setting for the textbox will not compute. It would be wonderful if the function call =api_uuidcreate() would simply work.

[mikeallenbrown]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Setting values in "default value" in a UX should work for a new record... I do so all over my program...unless list/detail views function differently some how (I have yet to use a list/detail view).

[Lance Gurd]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Mike,

The list/detail view does function differently simply because it is the list you are adding a new record to not the detail view and it follows the process of new record in the list = only the relevant primary key is updated so all the other fields in the detail view are blanked out (unless it is a child list/detail, then the parent link gets added as well), so you need the javascript to set the required values of certain fields.

[lvasic]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Under List builder properties and under the Detail View tab there are Client Side Events and Server Side Events. I have used this with success setting Client Side Events.

[westridge]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

So, to get a UUID in the key field for new rows, should I try to do a AJAX callback to an XBASIC that invokes api_uuidcreate()? Is there a simple call in javascript method to do this? I've tried the AJAX call back method but only get a "false."

[westridge]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Woot! Solution Found.
in version Alpha Anywhere v3.
This example sets the Client_ID in the detail section of a list control to a UUID.

1. Create a simple XBasicfunction in the UX component.
function getUUID as c(e as p)
dim uuid as c
uuid = api_uuidcreate()
e._set.CLIENT_ID.value = uuid
end function

2. Edit the list control
a. Select the list control,
b. Select List Properties
b. Select the Fields Tab
c. Select the column to default to a UUID (CLIENT_ID in this case).
d. Select Default Value JavaScript.
e. Insert the call below, making sure you are calling the correct function name.
{grid.Object}.ajaxCallback('G','{Grid.RowNumber}:all','getUUID','','',{deviceOfflineFunction: function() { }});

Hint: you may need to create a button to have Alpha build the call for you via action JavaScript.
Assumption: you built the input controls via the list builder "helper/wizard"

[Steve Workings]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Selwyn has now added some features and flexibility to the setting of initial values for this. See the pre-release notes -- here's the first paragraph:

UX Component - Detail View - New Records - Default Values - When you define a List control with a Detail View you can specify Javascript code to return the default value for a field when a new record is created in the Detail View. A new option has been added to the List builder to allow you to automatically use the default value that was defined for the control to which the List field is bound for new record default values.

[Lance Gurd]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Thanks,

I had not noticed the default value settings for a list detail view in the list builder, works a dream.

[CharlesParker]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

I am trying to set the default value of two controls in the detail view of a list, One of the controls needs the default value to be set to a5ws_getcurrentuser() and the other to a session variable. IN a normal UX I would just put these default values in the properties of the field - in a list it seems impossible, can anyone give me a clue where to put the default value for these two fields?
I see a Detail view called
"DetailView value Javascript"
as well as the onpopulate event - either way nothing seems to work.

Help if you can, I need these two fields to submit these two values like PRONTO and I cannot figure out this list control crapola...would be nice if there were some decent documentation on this.

I would suggest they stop further development until they hire a guy JUST for documentation or something!

[CharlesParker]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

I see theres a default setting in the list builder for "Other Properties" that allows you to set the Default policy for new record in Detail View to "None"
well played - as None is all I get regardless - aggravated and going to bed...I just want to set the default value to a session variable and or a5ws_getcurrentuser()
Jeeeeeeez!

[Lance Gurd]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Charles in your UX components server side ondialoginitialize event set the value of some dialog object variables like

js="{dialog.object}._myvar=a5ws_getcurrentuser();"

then emit the the javascript with

e.javascript = js

Then in your list go to the fields tab under detail view properties edit the default value javascript to read

var fn = {dialog.object}._myvar;
return fn;

for the field you want to have your user name in.

You only need to do similar for your session variable by setting another dialog object variable.

[CharlesParker]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

I believe I followed your instructions, but the field did not populate with the variable. The one thing that I do not quite understand about this is where and what to do with the second part of emitting the js.
first I tried putting it following the first code snippet in teh on dialog initialize then I tried putting in the lists builders "quickaccess" javascript declarations.

This seems really complicated to me to simply set a default value of a field in a list control's detail view (even if it has a parent list) - when it is painfully simple throughout Alpha elsewhere.

What can I do to help you guys help me get this part ?
Thanks Lance for your help so far - it sounds like you have this working.
I really want to get this worked out tonight if possible.

[Lance Gurd]

Re: List with detail view set initial values

Hi Charles,

The emit javascript section of code should be in the ondialoginitialize event.

If you are running this in live or working preview it will not work because you are not logged in, you need to publish it to your server and login so that the a5ws_getcurrentuser() has something in it.

Attached is a simple UX with a list and detail view that is based on the northwind database (change the connection string in the list to point to where ever you have northwinds). I have set the _myvar to ='John' in the ondialoginitialize so that a new record with put that in the first name field in working preview.

Hope you get it sorted
charles.a5wcmp