Newbie Questions

[Lanemc]

Just getting started with Alpha Five version 10. Did some work many years ago with Clipper, but nothing recently, so having to learn from scratch again.

Questions: I've noticed that sometimes you can change the properties of an control (ie, drop down combo box) in a form, save the changes of the control, then when you save the form by clicking X in top right, it doesn't ask you if you want to save changes and when you open form for design again, the changes are no longer there. I've also tried right click on the form and select save with the same results. Am I missing something?

Also, is there a way to monitor data like current record #, active index, variables, etc? Alpha Five seems to have the capability in the drop down box, just can't figure out how to display it when using a form.

Thanks,

[Keith Hubert]

Re: Newbie Questions

Hi Lane,

Welcome to Alpha.

Not sure why you are not getting the Message box asking you to Save Form or Cancel.

I suggest you use the Disk Icon on the toolbar.

Also, it is best if you only ask one question at a time in each thread. This helps to the maintain the integrity of the thread.

[CALocklin]

Re: Newbie Questions

Some things don't seem to trigger Alpha to prompt for saving - most do but some don't. I'm not sure which do and which don't so I've just made it a habit to save everything myself. Hint: Ctrl-S is usually faster than clicking the Save icon with your mouse. (And it's fun when working remotely because your customer keeps telling you it wasn't saved - they can't see you click the icon so they assume you didn't save it.)

There are lots of possible answers to the other questions. (This is one reason Keith suggests separate threads the other is that it makes it easier to find things - no need to wallow through 5 other issues to find the one you are interested in.) The short answer is "Yes". They can all be done.

The record number will show up in the bottom left if you have the status bar turned on. There are other ways to display the record number if you really need to but I don't think I've ever had the need in the last 20 or so years.

To show a variable, you just put a 'field' object on the form with the variable in the object. (It's called a field object but you can also put variables in them.)

To show the sort order or filter, use the Current_Order_Expn() or Current_Filter_Expn() function to define a calc field on a form and display that field. The calc field would be simply:
crnt_filter = Current_filter_expn()
It's also possible to get the current index name (rather than the filter and order definitions) and display that but, although I feel like it should be easy, I can't remember how right now. Also, if it's sufficient to suffoncify, the status bar also shows whether you are using an index or a query - look near the right end of the status bar and it will say "query on" or "index on".

[Lanemc]

Re: Newbie Questions

Thanks for your replies - have spent many hours playing and learning Alpha Five and starting to get a handle on some of it. The more I learn, the more I find out I need to learn!