OnKey Events

[burtnco]

What's wrong with this code? I get "dim a_user.key.value as c: variable frame bad". Apparently the "+" character is not being trapped, but writes it in the field. I copied the code from the Alpha help file, which says nothing about dimming the pointer variable, by the way.

dim a_user as p
dim a_user.key as c
dim a_user.key.value as c
if a_user.key.value = "+"
sys_send_keys("{ctrl}{enter}")
end if

Here's what I'm trying to do. Maybe you have a better way to accomplish this. I don't want the clerk to touch the keyboard.

There's a subform to enter invoice line items in. We use a scanner to populate the "barcode" field whose OnWrote field rule event looks up the item in the catalog and populates the rest of the fields. Using the keyboard, ctrl-enter works accomplishes this task just fine. But I need to do this with the scanner.

I have a barcode of the "+" character taped to the counter. The clerk scans an item barcode, then scans the "+" barcode, which is supposed to save the record and move to the next line for more barcode entry. Thus the sys_send_keys() in the code above. Although it works in A4, I can't get it to work in A5.

Any assistance would be invaluable.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: OnKey Events

So is the problem getting the input from the scanner, or how the script is handling the specific field value? If you press the plus key does the script run? If so that suggests the problem is getting input from the scanner. Maybe what you need is to set focus to a text box in the form and let the onchange event of that box handle the input from the scanner... I'm not sure the onKey event will ever fire if the only input is supplied through the serial port...

[burtnco]

Re: OnKey Events

The scanner inputs the data into the field perfectly, Tom. What I want to do is ctrl-enter at that point so I can do it again with another item, and so on. I figure that, if I used an onkey script to do this and placed it in the field rules as an onarrive event, the "+" would fire if keyed, not append it to the data. But the code I'm using throws an error. Perhaps someone could show me a working example of "onkey" so I can tailor it to my needs. The Alpha help on the subject doesn't show a complete example. Or maybe someone knows a better way to build this mousetrap, like appending ctrl-enter to the scanned data. The scanners I've looked at only take one suffix character, with some being control characters, like control-F9 and most all other keys, but no control enter. .

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: OnKey Events

I'm thinking that you might use a second field. To capture the plus sign. You haven't told us what field has focus when the user scans the plus sign. You haven't told us whether the onKey event fires, at all, when the scanner supplies text to a field. You haven't told us if entering a plus sign from the keyboard will run your script with good results.

Here's a complete script to see if the event fires when you're expecting...

IF a_user.key.value = "+" THEN
    a_user.key.handled = .T.
    IF a_user.key.event = "down" THEN
         msgbox("Hoorah","the onkey event script just fired")
    END IF
END IF

[martinwcole]

Re: OnKey Events

the scanner can be programmed to do this automatically - but how do you handle when the buyer is getting several of the same item? scan serveral times?

If the default quantity is one (should be), then just have the scanner send an ENTER or cr-linefeed and it will auto save the record and go to the next row in the browse. I do this all the time with barcode scanners.

[burtnco]

Re: OnKey Events

IF a_user.key.value = "+" THEN
a_user.key.handled = .T.
IF a_user.key.event = "down" THEN
msgbox("Hoorah","the onkey event script just fired")
END IF
END IF

Tom... This code doesn't work because, in it, the variables haven't been declared. I'd appreciate it if you'd write DIMs in the code for me. I did declare the variables, and then saved it as a Barcode field onArrive event in field rules. But when it did fire, I got a message about the variable frame being bad. To answer your questions, the barcode field has the focus and has not been saved yet when onkey should fire.

Martin... {Enter} simply puts the focus on the next column of the grid. I haven't tried appending {ctlf} in the scanner yet, but I will. It makes better and much more efficient sense, if it works as you say. But, when we begin a new invoice, we press control-e, then we scan a barcode on the pick ticket to populate the header portion of a new invoice. This cuts down on typos. Then we save it and begin work in the line items subform. Won't the scanner save and create a new invoice record? That's not a good thing since we want to go to the first just-created record's empty subform. Which is why using onKey may be the better option, since the onKey fires only in the subform.

I really thank both of you guys.

[aschone]

Re: OnKey Events

Burt -

It is difficult to understand where your onkey code is placed. Can you describe in detail where the code is or upload a sample database demonstrating the error?

From your description I am gathering that your code is placed in the field rules events tab, which will not work. OnKey events need to reside in the context of the form.

http://support.alphasoftware.com/alp...s_on_forms.htm

[burtnco]

Re: OnKey Events

Thanks for the tip! I moved the code to the subform's onArrive event in properties. When gave the subform focus, I was told that a_user couldn't be found. Do I have to declare it first?

[aschone]

Re: OnKey Events

I do not think you need to dim the variable first, but then I could be wrong. Can you upload a sample of the database and step by step instructions as to what your doing to generate the error? I can take a look at it tonight once I get home.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: OnKey Events

I moved the code to the subform's onArrive event in properties

Onkey scripts/code should be placed on the onkey event, no other. The onkey event fires

Whenever a key is pressed while the form has focus.

The onarrive event will only fire (once) when an object gets focus.

[martinwcole]

Re: OnKey Events

here is a sample adb showing 2 uses for the onkey event
I haven't had time to test the scan field, but should work - presuming the scanner sent a cr/line feed at the end of the scan

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: OnKey Events

Tom... This code doesn't work because, in it, the variables haven't been declared. I'd appreciate it if you'd write DIMs in the code for me. I did declare the variables, and then saved it as a Barcode field onArrive event in field rules. But when it did fire, I got a message about the variable frame being bad. To answer your questions, the barcode field has the focus and has not been saved yet when onkey should fire

Burt, the code runs fine as presented, but it has to be attached to the onKey event in the form layout. Since you were asking for help with a script for the onKey event I presumed you knew where to attach the script I supplied. If you're still struggling with this send me a private email. -- tom

ps. a_user is a system variable. You should NOT be dimming it in your script. Nor is it dimmed in the example provided in the helps.

[burtnco]

Re: OnKey Events

Understood, Tom. I need to attach the script to the parent form's onKey event, not the subform's onArrive event, which I thought was the logical place. I did this. It works. I appreciate your help.