auto fill grid fields

[Hansolo]

I can�t condense this enough to search for an answer that may already be on the forum. Sorry if this is already answered.

I need to create a web app where the user can select a record already in the database and certain fields of the record are used to fill in parts of a grid that can then be filled in further manually and submitted as a new record. Like if you have a customer whose name is already in the database for a previous record then why not just extract the name to a new record and fill in the rest to eliminate mistakes. I am pretty sure I can do this using session variables but I am hoping this was foreseen and that it is just a matter of setting up the proper built in grid components and search properties. Any help is appreciated.

[Steve Wood]

Re: auto fill grid fields

Grids display existing table values. You cannot populate grid fields with 'default' values or even values from session variables. So if you had some pre-processing step that created a partial table record, then you could display that table record in a grid, and ask the user to complete the record and press Submit to save.

However, Dialogs can show default field values and values from session, cookies, or page variables. So if you knew some key value you could display a Dialog and populate default values by extracting the information from the table as the Dialog is shown.

The above is for V9 and earlier, you can probably figure out default values with V10 since it has various Events that might be able to bring values over when the blank record has focus.

[Hansolo]

Re: auto fill grid fields

Steve thanks. Seems like it should be possible to use a searchable grid and a hyperlink to pass some fields to a session variable. The on the next page open an Add only grid and populate its field controls with those in the session variable using java script. After all if I can type in the blank fields I should be able to have java script do the same after the page loads.

After all a grid control set to add only is not displaying anything from an existing table, rather it is adding data to an existing table when submitted, correct?

[Steve Wood]

Re: auto fill grid fields

In V9 when you perform a search, the search parameters are in the URL and become page variables for whatever page you are opening. So yes, you could save any of those values to a session var using code in the A5W page. You would have to use Javascript of your own design to populate rows with 'default' data. V9 does not have a property named "Initial Value" for any editable field in a Grid.

Or you could just upgrade to V10 which does have an Initial Value property for editable grid fields. From the Grid Initial Value field instructions, your Initial (e.g. Default) field value can be a literal, a session variable or an expression like =data(). V10 also has Events for the Search area where you can capture and manipulate search parameters between the time the user pressed Search and when they are used to find records. Selwyn kinda coined that the Steve Wood feature since he called out my name during the recent training indicating he had added them on my suggestion. I was mortified to find out I was in the lobby talking to my kids at the time he called out my name.

[Hansolo]

Re: auto fill grid fields

You are very wise, thank you. I don't have the option to upgrade now. I have only started using v9 this summer. Off to learn more java script which I probably need more of anyway.

Best,

[Dan_Foster]

Re: auto fill grid fields

What is typed in the "Default Value" field of Ver 10 to post a session variable?

Something like "=session.userid", I would guess but I can't get to work???