Open Second Instance of Alpha

[Tom Patten]

I need to open a second app when in my original app AND I need the original app to remain open.

If I use A5.Load() it closes the original app.

I can get it to work using sys_Shell(), but cannot get all related opening parameters to behave. The -icon in particular doesn't work.

Filename = "c:\PALs_Mgr"+Chr(92)
var->v_OpenApp = A5.Get_Exe_Path()+Chr(92)+"Alpha5.exe "+filename+"leads\leads.adb -SPLASH=Palslogo.bmp -Title="+chr(34)+"PALs"+Chr(34) -icon="PalsLogo.ico"
Sys_shell(v_OpenApp,1)

As I look at the above again, the quotes and squotes and chr(34) represent many hours of trial and error! And it still isn't working!!!

Also, how can I check to see if the second app is already open? I've tried A5_is_database_Open(), but it is not app specific.

Thanks,

~ Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

For the v_openapp try

var->v_OpenApp = quote(A5.get_path()+Chr(92)+"Alpha5.exe")+" "+ quote(filename+chr(92)+"leads\leads.adb") + " -SPLASH=\"Palslogo.bmp\" -Title=\"PALs\" -icon=\"PalsLogo.ico\""

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Tom,

Do you need to keep the original app open, or do you just need to get back to it? We "Call" other apps, but we use addin variables to determine where we came from and then load that app back. We keep any shared variables in the addin variable space as well as the addin space remains as long as Alpha is open as compared to other types, which are App specific.

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

If you only want to know if another database is open, maybe you only allow the one to open the other, then you can just check open Alpha instances.

tst = sys_id_enum()
db = ""
for each entry in tst
if left(entry.value,10) = "Alpha Five"
db = db+entry.value+crlf()
end if
next
if line_count(db)> 1
msgbox("There are "+alltrim(str(line_count(db)))+" databases open.")
end if

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Tom - You now have me questioning if I need both open at the same time, or just open them as needed. Especially since Stan solved my problem with opening the second app.

Stan - with a few changes, like changing A5.get_path to 5.Get_exe_Path and removing a chr(92) - IT WORKED!!

Now let me play with your solution for checking if it is already open.

~ Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

removing a chr(92)

Yeah, forgot I moved that to the expression rather than having it in the Filename = "c:\PALs_Mgr"+Chr(92) declaration.

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Stan - not surprisingly, you solution for finding if another database was open worked as well and solves my problem.

Thank you very, very much.

~ Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Just to make sure it fits your needs I tested a couple of special cases. If you have one database open and Alpha open again with no database open, just the Alpha program window. you get this from the enum function.

Alpha Five - [Code Editor]
Alpha Five

If you have a database open and are ready to open another database in the second instance you get

Alpha Five - [Code Editor]
Open Workspace
Alpha Five

The original suggestion will cover those so you should be good.

sys_id_enum(), for an open application, supplies the text as seen in the Windows taskbar. If one uses the command a5.window_title ="Tom's Special App" then the suggested code would need to be adjusted to that text.

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

I have it working using Sys_shell(), but now I'm interested in looking at the A5.load() method. I may want this option. My problem is, I can't get the added parameters to work with A5.load and the help doesn't suggest that it will work, so is there a way?

Filename = Left(A_DB_CURRENT_PATH,Len(trim(A_DB_CURRENT_PATH))-5)  

result = file.exists(filename+"leads\Contact Manager.adb")
IF result = .F. THEN
   ui_msg_box( "Lead Manager NOT Setup", "Ask PALs to setup access to the lead manager at: "+filename+"leads\Contact Manager.adb")
   END
END IF

'ui_msg_box("File Found",filename+"leads\Contact Manager.adb")

var->v_OpenApp = quote(A5.Get_Exe_Path()+Chr(92)+"Alpha5.exe")+" "+ quote(filename+"leads\Contact Manager.adb") + " -SPLASH=\"Palslogo.bmp\" -Title=\"PALs\" -icon=\"PalsLogo.ico\""

'ui_msg_box("call this",v_OpenApp)

'Sys_shell(v_OpenApp,1)

:a5.load(v_help) 'or any combination doesn't work other than just the 

END

Thanks Again,

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Don't believe you're going to have much luck with that. The "additional parameters" are known as Command Line Options and only applicable to the command line.

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

I was afraid of that. But it didn't stop me from banging my head against the proverbial wall!
Thanks for your reply.

~ Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

In the same directory with the adb file, check for a .startup file. You should be able to open that with wordpad. Try modifying that and see what happens when you use a5.load().

Wondering if the commands in the startup file will be honored.

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

Stan - no .Startup file. just the .adb file. Could I create a .Startup file?

~ tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

I was investigating that but it appears the startup file is just a shortcut for the command line options. IOW, you can create a startup file and call it from the command line with

-INCLUDE="C:\temp\databasename.startup"

the startup file can contain all of the command line options in one place but still must be called like the individual options are called.

No joy if you want the a5.load() process.

[Tom Patten]

Re: Open Second Instance of Alpha

I don't know what I did different, but now the A5. load() function doesn't show the Alpha splash screen, but just opens on the start form.

This will work also.

~ Tom