timer control button

[eboughey1]

I'm looking for a way to track time on the jobs in my database. I've got a hybrid application so the employees can enter their information on the web.

The way I'm envisioning it, the employee presses a start button and the timer starts. When they press End, the timer would stop and log the elapsed time into a field.

The other option would be for it to log the start time when they press 'start' and the end time when they press 'end'. I would have to create another field though to calculate the elapsed time.

Has anyone else had to do this? Do you think the best way to start is by looking for java code in a library that I could incorporate into my web page?

[Steve Workings]

Re: timer control button

I've done this. A timer isn't really what you want. Instead, a "Start Time" button to record in one field, and an "End Time" button to record in another, then calc the difference.

[Editor]

Re: timer control button

I have the same desire for my folks to use. They tend to have a few tasks runing simultaniously, and starting them in the Db and ending with a clock mey(?) make reporting more accurate. I am using the date/time widgets, which for now seems good enough.

What if....
field Time_in had a start button to enter current time
and time out had similar (clock icon)
Then when the doc was saves the time_calc would cipher the difference and there would be the Time_worked
then a Time_worked_sum for some reporting?


Just a thought - Dave

[eboughey1]

Re: timer control button

You know, I'm really starting to think that I will never figure this stuff out. I'm not normally this slow to get rolling.

I even purchased that 'web apps made easy' to no avail (yet).

You have to look for the job # (vc_job) first and it stores the job # in a variable. I created the timer button. I used the action script feature and did several things:

On push -
Created a variable called v_begin and set it to v_begin = time()

Xbasic change record - Edit Existing Record / grabbed the table / using key expression that looks at the variable 'vc_job', updates the field 'start time' with variable v_begin

When I run it, I get a Script error
itbl = tbl.order(key_expr,".t.")

I've attached a print screen as well. Looks like another all nighter for me.

[eboughey1]

Re: timer control button

I've figured it out (finally!).

I created a button and 'on push' I created 2 action script items:

1. created a variable (v_begin) that updates the variable with time() function
2. Set value property of field to the variable (under field/set field values/)

I kept having problems because originally I didn't have the start and stop fields on the form. Adding them was the only way I could achieve my goal but I like how the start and stop look anyway and I can see it update the field. Now I just have to make it so they can't change the value.

Just wanted to share the results in case someone comes on looking for a timer control in future

[Editor]

Re: timer control button

I like that solution. And it's so simple.

Perhaps a collaboration is in order, as our projects look quite similar.

[rleunis]

Re: timer control button

Elena,

1) You mean tracking time how long somebody is busy with a certain job?
A button for start and finish seems like measuring time like you see with chess games...

2) Or do you mean measuring a (computer) job from start to finish? Then the job complete time would have to be the finish time; Not the pressing of the finish button. What if the user is away for a coffee when the job finishes already?

Also I do not understand how you would be able to use JAVA code and interprete that with the Alpha web server. I would be very interested when Alpha can interprete JAVA. Opens up a whole new connectivity world.

regards, Ron

[eboughey1]

Re: timer control button

I'm tracking a job as in how long they are busy working on it. I do understand the coffee break issue, but that would happen with any timer....


I thought that AJAX utilized javascript functions and libraries...? no?

[rleunis]

Re: timer control button

Elena,

You mentioned JAVA.
JavaScript, despite the name, is essentially unrelated to the Java programming language.
AJAX techniques use javascript.

regards, Ron

[eboughey1]

Re: timer control button

Elapsed time.

Okay. I see now that I'm forced to work with characters instead of logical or numeric types for web apps but I'm trying to set a duration and am having problems with conversion.

I've created a dialog that captures the time started and time completed (using only hours and minutes plus am-pm and I do have a date field to use as well).

I created a field called 'elapsed' that is character (i've tried numeric with no success) to calculate the duration of the job.

as character:

dim t3 as c = ""
session.t3= ctodt(session.vc_begin)-ctodt(session.vc_end)/60
CurrentForm.Controls.duration = val(ctodt(session.t3))

as numeric:

dim t3 as n
session.t3= ctodt(session.vc_begin)-ctodt(session.vc_end)/60
CurrentForm.Controls.duration = session.t3

dim t1 as Y
dim t2 as Y
dim t3 as Y
session.t1= ctodt(session.vc_begin)
session.t2= ctodt(session.vc_end)
session.t3= session.t2-session.t3/60
CurrentForm.Controls.duration = session.t3


Can someone please help me out with my code here? I know it should be easy but I just can't seem to get it going. I've tried several variations. How do you manipulate these variables to calculate for you when it's web based?