complex question

[jim whitaker]

I'm new to alpha 5 web server. I want to learn how to do the following.
I have an ms access database truck dispatch program and am converting it to the web before long. Here's what I'm after. Three main tables are involved in all loads. 1. Loadsheet 2. Picks 3. Drops. Now a fourth table called Dispatch shows all info "at a glance only" of the above three tables. Here's how: An example is I use standard programming to fill most fields, but for picks/drops I do a find first occurrence of a certain tripnumber, and have the table queried by tripnumber/pickno if dealing with pick table. I simple loop through these records and if first pass through then in a variable that holds load location ,say vcity for example,
vcity = lcity + ", " + " " + lstate.
If second time through:
vcity = vcity + " / ? + lcity + ", " + " " + lstate.
I'm sure any programmer gets the drift and jest of this. HOWEVER, here's my problem. I can do this in ms access, and in alpha5 v7 with no problem at all. HOW do I accomplish this using the web part of alpha 5? I figured out the grids and child stuff for the loadsheet and pick/drop tables. But how do I loop through and write to the dispatch table? Please be detailed, I don't even know where to put code. If some one knows please let me know. Bear in mind, a load might have 3 picks, this is why I put all in a quick view dispatch table for quick viewing and decision making.

[Steve Bovino]

If you have coded this already in Alpha you can place the code (minus any user interface calls) in a grid event, dialog event or on a A5 page.

Steve

[jim whitaker]

code

If I sent you my alpha5 code, could you then tell me exactly how it would go in a web application?

[Steve Bovino]

Sure. I would be happy to assist as I am sure the others on the forum would as well.

Steve

[jim whitaker]

code

In the below code, I first get the current trionumber into this global variable
:vtripno1.
Then this script is run.
'code to loop and get various receivers. I used vcarrier as variable, but it's
'getting shippers which is correct, I just named the variable vcarrier
'This works like a champ in alpha5 v7. I'd like to achieve this same example in 'a web database/page, or whatever you call it.

'CODE START:
dim tbl as P
dim tbl1 as P
dim indx as P
dim count as N
dim vcarrier as c
dim kount as n
dim tbl as P
dim indx as P
dim count as N
dim vdtripno as c
vdtripno = vtripno1
a5.command("VIEW_TRACE")
tbl = table.open("drops")
query.filter = "Tripno = vdtripno"
query.order = "Tripno+str(Dropno,19,5)"
query.options = "t"
indx = tbl.query_create()
count = indx.records_get()
tbl.fetch_first()
kount = 0
while .NOT. tbl.fetch_eof()
kount = kount + 1
'tbl.change_begin(.t.)
if kount = 1 then
vcarrier = alltrim(tbl.Consignee)
end if
if kount > 1 then
vcarrier = vcarrier + " / " + alltrim(tbl.Consignee)
end if
tbl.fetch_next()
end while
indx.close()
tbl.close()
' ui_msg_box("Record Count", "" + count) used to test, worked
' END PART 1************************************
'below code write to dispatch table the above results.

'BEGIN PART 2

dim shared vtripno as C
dim shared varC_result as C
dim shared recnum as N
dim thiskey as C
dim shared varC_result as C
tbl1 = table.open("dispatch",file_rw_exclusive)
tbl1.index_primary_put("tripno")
varC_result = vdtripno
thiskey = varC_result
recnum = tbl1.fetch_find(thiskey)
if (recnum > 0) then
tbl1.fetch_goto(recnum)
tbl1.change_begin()
tbl1.Consignee = vcarrier
tbl1.change_end(.t.)
else
tbl1.enter_begin()
tbl1.tripno = varC_result
tbl1.Consignee = vcarrier
tbl1.enter_end(.t.)
end if

tbl1.close()

[Steve Bovino]

Jim:

You can put this code on an a5 page. Create a blank a5 page and put your code between <%a5 and %>. Just load the page in the manner of your choosing and the code will run. For example, you could open the page via a link, button or off a menu. It can also be run from event section of a grid or a dialog. I run similiar code from dialog boxes.

Steve

[jim whitaker]

How would I get the tripnumber into a variable vtripno1 like I did in alpha5? And How would I get the page you mentioned to act on this variable? The code has to have a starting point, or something to act on, like vtripno1. Remember I am totally dumb to web pages, but want to learn. Say I have a linked grid which shows the loads and pick/drops on one page. One load under loadsheet, and 2 child tables picks / drops. I can do this already with no programming. OK, I want to put the tripnumber on current pate into a variable called vtripno1 ----HOW? Then have a link to the page you mentioned act on this variable ---How? In other words I just need that first step to get started. I don't even know how to assign the variable on the web page. This part is easy in alpha5 v7.

[Steve Bovino]

Jim:

Take a look at dialog boxes in the web demo. A dialog box allows you to assign a variable and then act on it. In this case you could put your code in the validate event on the dialog. For example, a dialog coould employ a drop down box that has your choices. The choice can then be assigned to a session variable which can be used during your web session. You would have to rename the variable in your code to indicate that it is a session variable. I would stringly suggest you take a look at the Web tututorial. I t hink a lot of what I am saying will begin to make sense.

Explain how the variable you mentioned is selected and when. There may be other methods depending on how you need the code to execute. Once we determine how and when the code is going to execute, we can decide the best way to kick off the page and your code.

[jim whitaker]

variable

I would want the variable auto selected via whatever the current tripno (tripnumber) is. So if I just added or edited a trip, a submit button would not only save my changes, but get that variable to run the above code we've talked about. However, all of this needs to be done in the background with NO user having to do anything but save their changes. That's the whole idea of programming, most users aren't smart enough to handle some task, therefore the programmer puts these task in the background. The tasks are taken care of without the user ever knowing how. All the user needs to see is the dispatch sheet updated.

[Steve Bovino]

OK - That is a bit clearer now. The code will have to be part of the afterupdaterecord event. There is a way to take a value from the grid assign it to avariable and run your code. I am off to a meeting and I will get back to you.

[Steve Bovino]

Jim:

Check out this page in the help file.

"Using variables on A5W pages"

It lays out the use of variables in grid events. The following code could be used to read the data in your grid control and assign it to a variable.

dim session.testname as C

session.lastname = args.datasubmitted.r1.Last_name

The session variable will then be used in your code which can be placed in the event I mentioned in the earlier post.

[jim whitaker]

thanks

I will read and try this from the help file, thanks.
Answer one more question: If I do get all this working, and later decide to use the data2theweb, or an ADO ODBC database (still on the alpha web server), will the same variable technique work? Sorry to over ask, just new to all of this.

[Steve Bovino]

JIm:

I have seen examples on this board of using xbasic to manipulate data housed in other formats. Check the Datatotheweb forum here. It is also possible to manipulate ADO ODBC data with xbasic as well. Clearly you will not have the degree of flexibilty and power working outside the current native Alpha dbf format.

[den1s]

Hi Steve,

This is exactly what i have been trying to do for 2 days.

I have a grid component with (amongst others) a numeric field called 'asset_id' which already contains a number from the assets table. On the same a5w page, I have created a button to open and display an 'add new record only' grid. When the new grid opens, i am trying to create a session.vasset_id variable, so i can auto populate the asset_id field in the add new record grid. I can do the auto populate bit, but cant seem to get my head around creating the session.vasset_id variable.

I have read the 'Using variables on A5W pages' but it didnt help me very much.