OnKey Event for newbies

[hov333]

I'm working on a form with an embedded browse trying to build a "search" field on the form. I have a number of action scripts that run fine but the problem is that I've only been able to trigger them by putting them in the "OnChange" object event. From what I can tell, some Xbasic scripting knowledge is needed to take advantage of the onKey event.

I will be moving the working scripts from OnChange to OnKey. Then, I'd like the Enter key to run the action scripts, but only if the user is on the Search field.
Is there a way to use OnKey without converting my existing action scripts into xbasic?

Thanks!

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Just out of interest here, why not leave it with the Onchnge of the search field ?
I've never done that but does not sound like a bad idea.

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Its just been my experience that although it works using the Onchange event, its not ideal. It will run even though something has been typed in there by accident and the user just wants to get out of the field. Or if you re-enter the same information, it doesn't see the change so it doesn't run anything.
This form is designed to work with a barcode scanner,
It would work much better if there was a way to have it execute on the press of ENTER or by using a form button. Take website's search field, for example google's search...you can input whatever you like but it doesn't execute the search until the user presses ENTER or uses the Search button.

[MoGrace]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

You could try the OnDepart event for your script. That will trigger when the user uses the Enter or Tab key to exit.

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

To mimic the behavior you describe, place a square button to the right of the search field, move the code from the OnChange to the button. Finish with a magnifier logo on the button.

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

The problem with only having a button is that you lose the ability to use the form with a scanner. The user will be forced to scan the part and then come back to the PC to use the mouse just to click on the button. The scanner automatically sends data and adds the Enter key command at the end of the string.

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Go with Robin's suggestion. Make sure your scanner is set to add ENTER to the scan.

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Sounds good, however, I'm not sure how to start it...we only want it to run OnDepart and when Enter is used. I'm not experienced with xbasic at all, it currently runs a number of action scripts. Is there a way to preserve those and add the Enter key functionality? Guessing it would be an OnDepart event and within it I would check off 'Action is Conditional' but I'm stuck after that.

[preston2]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

if johns_condition then    'If true
 
    if a_user.key.value = "{ENTER}" THEN
      'set a_user.key.handled = .t. to prevent the key stroke being passed on to the Form
      a_user.key.handled = .t.
    
     do something

     end if    
 end if

But I think it would be better to have the OnKey event check and see if the object (form field) has focus and if so do the enter thing.

[preston2]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

This will only run your script if the enter key is pressed while a certain field has focus.
It would be in the OnKey event for the form.

dim obname as c
obname = :formname.Active()

if obname = "ObjectName" then

	if a_user.key.value = "{ENTER}" then
	    a_user.key.handled = .t.
	    script_play("yourscript")
	end if    

end if

Replace :formname. with the name of your form.
Replace "ObjectName" with the object name for the field on the form
Replace "yourscript" with the name of the script you want to run if the enter key is press while the field has focus.

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Hi Preston,

I'm currently trying to implement your suggestion. So how would I go about using your code (xbasic) along with my original action scripts built with genies. I rather not convert them to xbasic because I will be in trouble if necessary to edit something. Any work around?

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Update:
So i went ahead and copied the original action scripts into a New Global Script which is run as you suggested above.
One of the action scripts includes a 2 button dialog box which is giving me issues when using the Enter key to close out the dialog and return to the form. It keeps running the script every time I hit enter even though the dialog box is what has focus...

[MoGrace]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

If you use a button to run your scripts all the OnDepart field event has to do is push the button, and no mouse action is needed.

Yourbuttonname.push().

If the 2 action scripts need tweaking you can peek at the xbasic and copy and paste those scripts here. Otherwise there is not much more advice anyone can give you.

[hov333]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

Back at this again, Preston's suggestion works great. I'd like to be able to incorporate this to work with the script genie if possible so I don't need to convert the genie scrips into Xbasic.
Is there a way to convert Preston's code into something that can be run on a condition?

Here is the dialog created using the genie:
'Prompt for text and store result in a variable called 'vworknum'.
dim prmpt_title as c
dim prmpt_prompt as c
dim prmpt_default as c
dim prmpt_format as c

prmpt_title = "Work Number"
prmpt_prompt = "Enter Work Number"
prmpt_default = ""
prmpt_format = "00000"

DIM SHARED vworknum AS C

vworknum = ui_get_text(prmpt_title,prmpt_prompt,prmpt_default,prmpt_format)

[Stan Mathews]

Re: OnKey Event for newbies

First, you can add an action script element, xbasic, inline xbasic, and place your code there. That action script element can be conditional just like any other.