Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

To emphasis what Stan is saying...

You would run 2 copies of Alpha - each opening a different workspace.

I would suggest a separate shortcut on the desktop for each occurrence of the workspace and a different color scheme on the forms to clarify to the user which workspace is open..

[sgerber]

Re: Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

Open Alpha Five, open your workspace. Minimize it.
Repeat with other workspace. They will run independently.

Open another database (button).

Well that was certainly interesting! I didn't know you could have two instances of A5 running at same time. I accidently brought up a second instance previously and got a licensing warning. Apparently that only happens when you try to bring up the same workspace in both instances. (Must detect that scenario as multi-user?).

Thanks for pointing this out Stan. It's a minimalist solution and I don't like it, but as a failsafe it certainly works.

I'd like to move along to the next step on the path to "seamless" integration. I checked the link you posted and don't know why you pointed it out. It talks about "opening another database", that's good, but it says it will close the first one, that's bad. Am I misundertanding something?

1. Can you help me move toward my next and possibly last step, Stan. The only other database I have at present is my test database. That will change shortly. If I place a menu in that database, what do I need to do to access that menu from my current workspace without closing it.

2. Secondly, Stan, you didn't answer my earlier question but I can understand because I was terribly confusing. The question was whether all the various implementations of multiple workspace access require having two workspaces fully open concurrently with two control panels.

Thanks much ... Sam

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

Stan, how do I do this? I'd like to see how it feels to have two control panels and if I wanted, 2 menus, one for each workspace.

Open Alpha Five, open your workspace. Minimize it.
Repeat with other workspace. They will run independently.

Open another database (button).

[sgerber]

Re: Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

I have just an inkling of what you mean.

You can have two workspaces open simultaneously. One option.

Stan, how do I do this? I'd like to see how it feels to have two control panels and if I wanted, 2 menus, one for each workspace.

You can have one workspace which has a menu that opens either of two other workspaces. Second option.

This one interests me the most Stan. It "sounds like" (??) it's what I do now. Do all 3 of these options involve actually opening the other workspace? All I can relate to is A5V1 where the primary menu brings up a 2nd menu from the other directory and you just run menu options. You don't have a sense at all that there are different directories involved. Is it like that when you're concurrently accessing two workspaces in V11?

Here's the Version 1 button code which calls up the app menu in the other directory. In this scenario there are two directories but only a single control panel. However the control panel switches to the other directory while you're executing a form in the other directory. This probably doesn't make sense to you. I'll stop there.

Code: app_run("C:\A5\GCXWINV\GCXW.APD", "CARD=~GCXW Main Menu~"

You can have a button on the menu for of both workspaces which opens the other. Third option.

I can't quite picture this. Sounds like being in two rooms with the ability to see both ways when I'm only going to be in the one room.

Stan this all sounds terrific!!! I need to see first hand how it works and what it feels like. My son would probably want the solution that's easier.

Could you just respond to two things at this time?

1. My earlier question about how to have two workspaces with two control panels open concurrently.

2. If I didn't open the other workspace (or do I have to?), can I access a menu I put there from a button on the menu in my primary workspace? If so, what would the code be for that button or where can I find it in the documentation.

Thanks again, Stan. This is very good news. I'm very sorry my response is somewhat confusing.

--- Sam

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Concurrent access to multiple workspaces

I have just an inkling of what you mean.

You can have two workspaces open simultaneously. One option.

You can have one workspace which has a menu that opens either of two other workspaces. Second option.

You can have a button on the menu for of both workspaces which opens the other. Third option.

[sgerber]

My son's business has both a retail and a wholesale component. My A5 application migration from V1 to V11 is almost complete. I now have to deal with a nice feature that V1 provided, "Application Cards".

When my son started his wholesale operation I copied all the A5 files to a new directory, and emptied out all the tables. All filenames remained the same. I created an application card for the new directory (in V11 I've learned that we use forms for menus instead of application cards).

So ... on his V1 application card I put a button that says basically, go to the wholesale directory and bring up its menu. This enabled a seamless crossover to the other directory and both menus worked concurrently. He could create an invoice for a retail customer side by side with a wholesale customer's invoice. Alpha 5 kept track of which directory was involved and there never was a problem.

I don't know V11's nuances but I do know that it's a major pain in the butt to have to close down the first workspace to do something in the second workspace and then come back again. That's a great example of the opposite of "seamless".

Alphaholics, is there hope for my son? Do you have a trick up your sleeves?

For those of you who managed to escape V1, this implementation was via an "app_run" capability.

Thanks for listening. Please have a solution. --- Sam