Passing a variable via command line

[Tom Henkel]

We're developing a kiosk application for our clients to scan documents and have them go to a specific folder on a server based on which of the kiosk buttons they press.

I have a scanning application working very well, but the only thing I am missing is a variable passed in from the kiosk application. I start the application via the command line and it works just fine.

this is the command:

c:\a5Runtime\Alpha5.exe G:\temp\kiosk\kiosk.adb -minimize -command="DIM GLOBAL vUNIT as C = 'AJ'"

I have also tried

="DIM GLOBAL vUNIT as C = "AJ""

What we are trying to do here is to have the kiosk software run an alpha5 program with no sign of Alpha visible. The passed variable will determine Where the scanned document will go.
The kiosk software is mandatory, it must be used as the calling system.

I read that the x_basic command from the command prompt won't be available until after the autoexec is run, so my code is in a separate script called from the autoexec script. I have DIMed the variable in both the autoexec and called scripts, but when I try to display it with a ui_msg_box, NOTHING!

Has anyone successfully passed a variable into A5 from the command line?

any help is appreciated.

Tom

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

I have not done so but was wondering if your kiosk application could write your value to a txt file and then have your alpha app read it from there.

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Tim,

The app gives me a command line to work with. I suppose I could create a ".bat" file and do the work there, but since Alpha states that we can set a variable, I would rather go that way.

Tom

[MoGrace]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

You might try adding the variable to the global initialized variable list too.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Strange. First Alpha doesn't seem to like to dim and assign a value in one command. Second, character values give additional issues.

-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as N;vunit = 7"
above works for me in V11.

-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as C;vunit = 'AJ'"
above doesn't work and variable is not created.

-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as L;vunit = .T."
works

-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as D;vunit = {03/15/2012}"
works

Just for giggles, this works
-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as C;vunit = chr(65)+chr(74)"

And this,.
-COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as C;vunit = \"AJ\""

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Robin, I did dim the variables in the scripts. I just forgot to say so.

Stan, so it seems that character values are the issue. What variable I pass is not as important as passing the variable, it just means a little more code.

I will try things in the morning and report back...

Tom

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Stan,

I tried with the "chr()" command and got nowhere.

I also tried this line":

C:\Program Files\a5V12\alpha5.exe g:\temp\kiosk\kiosk.adb -COMMAND="Dim Global vunit as C;vunit = \"1AJ\""

(if the backslashes don't show, please believe me that they are in there)

I have a message box in the called script to display vUNIT, and nothing comes up.

I have attached the database. It is only a couple of scripts that perform a scan of documents and place them where I want them.

...for once I can actually put one of our systems out here without compromising any agency confidential info.

Please try it and let me know if you have any success.

Thanks,

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Try this as the autoexec.

'a5.Minimize()
code_to_run = "DIM GLOBAL vUNIT as C;ui_msg_box("test",vUNIT)"
on_xbasic_idle(code_to_run)
end

With the kiosk.startup as

-MAXIMIZE
-COMMAND="dim global vunit as C;vunit = "AJ""

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Works PERFECTLY!!!

Thanks, Stan

I never knew anything about "code to run"

(edit) I looked up "on_xbasic_Idle". Now I know what you are talking about.

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

I think the problem was that calling the script as you did from the autoexec meant that the autoexec hadn't finished so the variable wasn't ready.

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

If you're the smartest person in the room, you're in the wrong room

I don't think I'm alone in thinking this, but it looks like you're in the wrong room!

Please don't ever leave.

Tom

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

Nah, I didn't know how to do it until you asked. I just have a wealth of perseverance and nothing better to do.

The smart person would have had the answer. I'm just a technician.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Passing a variable via command line

I just have a wealth of perseverance

I'm just a technician.

I'll take that any day.