Definitions

[forskare]

Is there a place where Alpha has definitions; Something which defines what the 'Value� property of object(s)is, what the Get Field Values (into variables) is, etc. Alpha is good about telling what things are but not what they mean.

I'd also like to find some examples of using xDialog for data entry. I've been through the xDialog help and examples; maybe I just don't recognize it?

Thanks,

kenn

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Definitions

Hi Ken,

What part of data entry from a dialog box don't you get.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Definitions

Kenn, there are some pretty decent data entry examples in the Code Archive forum of the message board.

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Kenn, there are some pretty decent data entry examples in the Code Archive forum of the message board.

Hi Tom,

I've been thru the Code Archive numerous times and the only xDialog examples I find are for "traveling down the highway" rather than "building the highway". The only way I've found for xDialog data to be enterd is by opening a form as a xDialog. Even then, it requires a lookup to find the linking field. I've tried various routines of Get & Set in action scripting but it always returns the current record in the child table. I've searched A5 Help form one side to the other, looked at the xDialog examples (none for data entry other than open form as an xDialog). I've searched all forums, NADA. In short, I would like to see an example of an xDialog which enters data just as a form would be used to enter data into a child table.

Thank you,

kenn

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Hi Ken,

What part of data entry from a dialog box don't you get.

I would like to see an example of an xDialog which enters data just as a form would be used to enter data into a child table.

Thanks,

kenn

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Definitions

I would like to see an example of an xDialog which enters data just as a form would be used to enter data into a child table.

Here are 2 simple ways to use an xdialog to enter data into a table...

1. "outside the box" entry:

vDate = Date()

xBox = ui_dlg_box("Investment Account",<<%dlg%
{region}
Add Account Info:;
{endregion};
{region}
Date:| [%DATE;P=popup.calendar(dtoc(vDate));I=popup.calendar%.20vDate!vDate_*];
Account:| [.20vAccountNo];
Account Type:| [.20vAccType];
Value:| [.20VAmount];
{endregion};
{line=1,0};
{region}
<*15Add> <15Cancel>
{endregion};
%dlg%,<<%code%
if left(a_dlg_button,6) = "vDate_" then 
    if a_dlg_button = "vDate_killfocus" then 
        vDate = ctod(dtoc(vDate))
    end if 
    a_dlg_button = ""
end if
%code%)

IF xBox = "Add"
    vAmountValue = int(val(STRITRAN(STRITRAN(vAmount,"$",""),",","")))    ''strip $ and commas
    
    tbl = table.open("xyz")
    tbl.enter_begin()
    tbl.Date = vDate
    tbl.Account_No = vAccountNo
    tbl.Type = vAccType
    tbl.Total_Value = vAmountValue
    tbl.enter_end(.T.)
    tbl.close()
END IF

2. "inside the box" entry:

ui_dlg_box("Tab with Enter",<<%dlg%
{on_key=enter}{lf};
First name:|[.30f];Last name:|[.30l];Address:|[.30add];
City:|[.30city];State:|[.5st]    Zip:[.10zip];{lf};
|<10OK> <10Cancel>;
%dlg%,<<%code%
if a_dlg_button = "enter" 
ui_dlg_navigate("tab with enter","Next")
a_dlg_button = ""
end if
if a_dlg_button = "OK" 
tbl = table.open("abc")
tbl.change_begin()
tbl.City = City
tbl.change_end(.T.)
tbl.close()
a_dlg_button = ""
end if
%code%)

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Hi Peter,

Thank you for the examples. what is the difference between your code and xBasic. For those who are short on xBasic (I'm one of them), we can transpose our tables and fields. Beyond that, UGH. I have been under the impression xDialog was like creating a dialog box with action scripting. But, it seems that, other than using action scripting to create an xDialog box, one must know xBasic.

I thought there was an xDialog 'genie' that was used to create an input dialog box just as the ones in action scripting.

I do appreciate the examples and no doubt, they will help many others as well.

kenn

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Definitions

...Beyond that, UGH. I have been under the impression xDialog was like creating a dialog box with action scripting. But, it seems that, other than using action scripting to create an xDialog box, one must know xBasic.

Oops. Sorry. Didn't even thing of A.S. since I rarely use it. I guess you would create your xdialog and either add button code (xbaisc) within the xdialog genie, OR use A.S. to assign your xdialog variables to table entry values. Using A.S. like that is tedious, but doable.

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Oops. Sorry. Didn't even thing of A.S. since I rarely use it. I guess you would create your xdialog and either add button code (xbaisc) within the xdialog genie, OR use A.S. to assign your xdialog variables to table entry values. Using A.S. like that is tedious, but doable.

Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. You are well adapt at xBasic so it goes fast. Until you become familiar with Xdialog genies, it would be tedious. It's just the opposite for me. I can zip thru the genies at a decent clip.

For those like me, the xBasic examples are good but we need a bit more, an explanation of what's what and who's who. I look at the code and can figure out most but not all. i.e., [.30l], what the "l" stand for/mean? [.30add] What does "add" mean? Without an explanation, we can make a few things fit but that's where it ends. To know xBasic is to understand it. What one doesn't know, one doesn't understand., Sadly Alpha does poor job at explaining the code and even the action scripts.

That has been my pet peeve not only with Alpha but most software. The instructions are written by the experienced for the experienced, and NOT for the inexperienced. Had Alpha done that early on, they would have lived up to the claim "...anyone can use". That's why I said in another post, the documentation is harder and more time consuming than the development.

Thanks again,

kenn

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Definitions

...
I look at the code and can figure out most but not all. i.e., [.30l], what the "l" stand for/mean? [.30add] What does "add" mean?

Yeah, xdialog is a bear. Xdialog code is terse and cryptic, both. That particular example was ripped off an xbasic sample somewhere. "l"and "add"are both variables for last name and address. I would have used [.30vLastName] and [.30vAddress]. But I hear ya.

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Going back to the first part of my post:

Action Scripting offers:

Get �Value� property of Object(s)
Set �Value� property of Field(s)

Alpha help shows:

Set Value Property of Object(s)
Set Variable(s) to field Values (Fields on a form)

Action Scripting does not offer Set Value Property of Object(s). So, what�s the difference? Is there a misprint in the Action Script and/or the Help? I'm guessing there is no difference?Either way, it does not work. Or, is there a step I'm missing?

kenn

[MikeC]

Re: Definitions

Ken,
I am confused a bit about what you are questioning.....xDialog....or xBasic ? Two different things really. xBasic can be used in conjunction with xDialog (the %code% area you see), but is not the same language.

Regarding

Action Scripting does not offer Set Value Property of Object(s)

I use this all the time from Action Script (and then modify with xbasic)....see attached....

[forskare]

Re: Definitions

Ken,
I am confused a bit about what you are questioning.....xDialog....or xBasic ? Two different things really. xBasic can be used in conjunction with xDialog (the %code% area you see), but is not the same language.

xDialog.

Regarding I use this all the time from Action Script (and then modify with xbasic)....see attached....

[ATTACH]23557[/ATTACH]

[ATTACH]23558[/ATTACH]

Why do you use the Set Properties rather than the Set Value? I tried using your suggestion but it still doesn't work.

kenn

[MikeC]

Re: Definitions

Ken,
I had some issues with Set Field Values in action script a while back.....converted them to Set Object Properties and the issues went away.....could have been me but know of others who had same issues at the time who did the same. The latter is much more flexible as well so to me much more useful.


Truthfully, if you are trying to use xdialog to set values by using action scripting I really do not know how either---have from day one used xbasic to do it.....and is why I hesitated to answer. I know....not really helpful to you though. Sorry I can't be of more help to you.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Definitions

Kenn,

I had this example in mind. It's a data entry example and it's found in the Code Archive Forum and seems to be a complete example of what you were asking about. Have you taken a look at it?

http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...hlight=xdialog