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Underscore added to name

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    #1

    Underscore added to name

    I tried constructing a query on a form "Hours Entry" to select records to print payroll checks. When I tried to run it I got an error The object ':Hours_Entry' does not exist. I was using action scripting and had selected the Hours Entry form from the drop down list and apparently Alpha10 inserted an underscore between the hours and entry words. I then duplicated the form and named it Hours_Entry, but I still got the same error. I don't understand why, if it shows the form in the drop down menu that it can't find it when I run the query.
    I reviewed some of the board and did find that it seems Alpha does not like spaces in names and I thought that renaming would solve the problem, but apparently I am doing something else wrong.
    Tags: None
    #2
    Re: Underscore added to name

    Hi Howard,
    When I tried to run it
    What are you trying to run? I get the impression that you are trying to print the form, is that correct?

    To print the "payroll checks", first create a report and select the data as a filter for that print run.
    Regards
    Keith Hubert
    Alpha Guild Member
    London.
    KHDB Management Systems
    Skype = keith.hubert


    For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

    Comment

      #3
      Re: Underscore added to name

      Keith, I use the data from the form to print the checks that are defined as "letter" objects. Why I used letter instead of report is lost in the ancient past since this program has been running for years up to the point where I updated it and put it under V10. I am not well versed in xbasic and I use action scripting almost exclusively.

      Comment

        #4
        Re: Underscore added to name

        Hi Howard,

        OK, I assume you are trying to do a cheque run and the layout you are using is letter, which is fine.

        As you are using the letter layout for the cheques I assume you are not including a remittance advice.

        What is the criteria you are using to filter the cheques you want printed?
        Regards
        Keith Hubert
        Alpha Guild Member
        London.
        KHDB Management Systems
        Skype = keith.hubert


        For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

        Comment

          #5
          Re: Underscore added to name

          Keith, I don't understand "remittance advice". Is that what I would call the "check stub"? I do include all of the pertinent data including year to date figures. This was working fine for several years before I started fiddling with it due to changes in our IRS tax withholding tables.
          Anyhow, the database (hours) includes a field "Week Ending". I ask the user for the week ending date and store it in a variable. I then compare the variable with the field on the form for week ending. That is "anded" with "Regnetpay>0" because all employees don't get paid every week, so checks are printed only when the employee has money coming.
          PS: I spent 6 months in England in Bearstead near Maidstone, as a tech rep to Elliott Bros. Works in Rochester. Had a wonderful time after I learned to drive on the "wrong" side of the road..Ha

          Comment

            #6
            Re: Underscore added to name

            Hi Howard,

            Glad you had a good time in the UK. So pleased to know that you have returned safely to the USA. We also don't like people driving on the "wrong" side of the road over here!!!

            The "remittance advice" is to show all the details of extra items that have been added or subtracted to make up the final values. Like overtime added and tax deducted, this is what I should have called the "Pay Slip".

            Not quite sure what you problem is now. You say "This was working fine for several years before I started fiddling with it due to changes in our IRS tax withholding tables." What happens when you go back to the original and try to run that in V10?
            Regards
            Keith Hubert
            Alpha Guild Member
            London.
            KHDB Management Systems
            Skype = keith.hubert


            For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

            Comment

              #7
              Re: Underscore added to name

              I tried to run the 2009 payroll and came up with the same problem. The formula that is supposed to select the checks to be printed doesn't appear to work. I think we have digressed from the original problem of Alpha adding an underscore to a field name that originally doesn't have an underscore. When using action scripting I select the field, for example, "Period Ending" and when I get the error, it shows "Period_Ending" not found. BUT! I duplicated the form and changed the field to "Period_Ending" and still got the error "Field not found". I am going to try to run the 2009 payroll with V7, later today, to see what happens

              Comment

                #8
                Re: Underscore added to name

                Hi Howard,

                Did you also change the name "Period_Ending" in the table and not just on the form and layout?
                Regards
                Keith Hubert
                Alpha Guild Member
                London.
                KHDB Management Systems
                Skype = keith.hubert


                For your day-to-day Needs, you Need an Alpha Database!

                Comment

                  #9
                  Re: Underscore added to name

                  Its best to always put an underscore between words in a field or table name.

                  You may note that Alpha adds the underscore to field names when you save the file, while in 'edit structure' mode - HOWEVER, also note that unless YOU put the underscore in the field name, technically, it still contains a space. In some instances if you refer to the field with the underscore you will get an error, while in other instances if you refer to the field without the underescore you will get an error. The same holds true for table names. HOWEVER, if you always use underscores when defining field names and table names between words, you will not get this error.

                  At this point, though, if you edit structure and manually add the underscore, you will likely get errors the next time you open a form containing the field. E.g., originally, in the customers table you made a field called [first name.] You saved it and Alpha ostensibly converted it to [First_name.] To actually make the name [first_name] you will need to change it to [firstname], save it, and then change it to [first_name,] manually adding the underscore yourself. Then, in all layouts containing the field, you will need to right click in the field object, and change the name, adding the underscore.

                  I first ran into this when learing to write expressions, etc., in xbasic, in 4.5, circa 1998/1999.

                  At first I was quite aggravated noone had told me this, and that there was no little genie on my shoulder warning me of same. Then I read books and articles by Dr. Wayne, Ira, Cal, etc., regarding best practices and just accepted it.

                  Note that it will work either way, in xbasic, but you will need to learn how to write the expressions, etc., to accomodate the words where Alpha added the underscore.
                  Cole Custom Programming - Terrell, Texas
                  972 524 8714
                  [email protected]

                  ____________________
                  "A young man who is not liberal has no heart, but an old man who is not conservative has no mind." GB Shaw

                  Comment

                    #10
                    Re: Underscore added to name

                    you will need to learn how to write the expressions, etc., to accomodate the words where Alpha added the underscore.
                    I personally would NOT want to add this sort of learning to everything else there is to learn already regarding xbasic/xdialog! :)


                    Howard,
                    When you went back to v9 and tested, you perhaps were not actually testing orginal code if you created this in Action Script. Ira Perlow has pointed out several times that Action Scripting can/will change between versions when saved if Alpha changed how it was rendered. So edit your script in v9 and resave, then test in v9.

                    I just want to eliminate another possible is all, however unlikely it might be.
                    Mike
                    __________________________________________
                    It is only when we forget all our learning that we begin to know.
                    It's not what you look at that matters, it's what you see.
                    Henry David Thoreau
                    __________________________________________



                    Comment

                      #11
                      Re: Underscore added to name

                      Thank you for your time and effort on this problem. I fianlly started over from scratch, carefully checking each step. I think one of the problems was defining a query with the action scripting and ALSO defining it in the properties of the letter. In any case, I can now print the payroll checks. Thanks again and cheerio.
                      Howard

                      Comment

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