Looking For Pointers On Data Formatting

[mspearman]

I've spent the past few weeks learning all that I can from Alpha 5 training videos and I created an application. I'm very impressed, but starting to hit a wall when it comes to advanced features. I've looked into some manuals on the Alpha website, but the links are dead.

For starters, I'm going to have to create a very large XML output where every field has specific requirements. Padding spaces and trying to use the clock supercontrol to output 24 hour time are just a couple of things I ran up against today. To top off the problem of lack of training materials, many searches on the forums error out with an error complaining that I must search for more than 1 word, even though I've put in a multiple word search.

I don't like to complain, I'm looking for any suggestions for a starting point to learn how to format the output. I've found many functions, but I am not sure how to apply them with limited Xbasic skills.

[Steve Workings]

Re: Looking For Pointers On Data Formatting

Mark - Read your post as if you're one of us ready to help. You know what you need, but your question is pretty general.

I suggest you knock it down a piece or two at a time, and see how we can help.

For instance: I have "X", and I need it to be produced on a web page as "Y".

I know that all problems aren't as simple as this, but you need to give us specifics to help with here.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Looking For Pointers On Data Formatting

many searches on the forums error out with an error complaining that I must search for more than 1 word,

The error is poorly worded. What is means is that it won't allow searches on three (or fewer) letter words. Imagine the hits returned searching for threads including the words

the
and
to
a
why
for

[MikeC]

Re: Looking For Pointers On Data Formatting

Mark,
When I needed to create some XML I found this with a search of the messageboard. Maybe this will give a head start. Check out the functions in the help file and it should enable understanding of how the script works.

Just so happens Stan Mathews gave this to us to use. Here also is a link to where a sample db is also given with this script being used.
http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...ad.php?t=70494

'Date Created: 29-Nov-2007 12:15:43 PM
'Created By  : SMathews
'Updated By  : SMathews
fil = file.create(a5.get_path()+chr(92)+"xmlout.xml",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl = table.open("company",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
'fil.write_line("  <?xml verson=\"1.0\" encoding=\"ISO-8859-1\" ?>")
'Micorsoft xml editor will not open file if above line is executed
fil.write_line(" <company>")
tbl.fetch_first()
while .not. tbl.fetch_eof()
fil.write_line(" <employee>")
fil.write_line("      <firstname>"+alltrim(tbl.firstname)+"</firstname>")
fil.write_line("      <lastname>"+alltrim(tbl.lastname)+"</lastname>")
addr = alltrim(tbl.Stno)+", "+alltrim(tbl.Strt)+", "+alltrim(tbl.City)+", "+alltrim(tbl.St)
'debug(1)
addr= if(right(addr,2) = ", ",left(addr,-2),addr)
fil.write_line("      <address>"+addr+"</address>")
fil.write_line("      <salary>"+alltrim(str(tbl.Salary))+"</salary>")
fil.write_line(" </employee>")
tbl.fetch_next()
end while
fil.write_line(" </company>")
fil.flush()
fil.close()
tbl.close()
end