Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

[exeye]

I'm stuck again.

This time I am trying to build a data-entry form for my invoice application. I have a Customer table with default values for each customer: address, tax jurisdiction, terms, etc., and an Invoice table including the same fields (and more). I want a way to pick a record from the Customer table and copy its fields into the corresponding fields in the Invoice table. I can then edit the default values to suit the needs of a specific invoice.

I have two sticking points. First, I don't know the best use of controls to accomplish this. I've figured out that I want a Combo Box showing all the CustName fields from the Customer table (there aren't too many). But should I use a Record List-Combo Box, or a Record List-Edit Combo Box? And should I have the Combo Box be the data entry field for CustName on the Invoice form, or a button alongside the data entry field, or something else?

Next, I can't figure out how to get the Combo Box to cause multiple fields to get copied. I'm guessing I need to include some Xbasic running off an event of the control like OnPush. But I don't know how to reference the Customer table record selected by the Combo Box, or if that is even possible.

As always, I'm grateful for any help, and realize I'm asking pretty basic questions. All I need is to be pointed in the right direction. I've already made a lot of progress in learning Alpha Five.

Thanks,

-jimc

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Jim

Open the AlphaSports sample database and review how it works.

[bob9145]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Test

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Test

Yes it tested..

[exeye]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

I finally got something working that does what I want.

I spent a day studying the AlphaSports example, long enough to figure out that it didn't have anything that did what I wanted to do. It wasn't wasted time, as I learned a lot.

I finally ended up with a button that ran some ActionScript that did what I needed, on the OnPush event. The script put up an XDialog to select the desired customer-file record, then read a bunch of data from the customer file into variables, then used it to populate the corresponding fields of an invoice-file record. A gotcha was that I needed to check for the user pressing Cancel in the XDialog and abort the script.

Now each invoice has its own editable copy of the customer soldto and shipto data, that I can populate with default data with a couple of clicks. I did a similar thing with sales tax data, so that if a tax rate changes old invoices will use the old rate and new invoices the new rate.

If somebody ends up finding this thread in the future, hopefully this information will prove useful. If there's a better way to do this, please share.

Thank you.

-jimc

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Jim, have you discovered field rules yet? A table lookup field rule could display a customer list from the "lookup" customer table. User picks one and fields in the invoice header record get auto-filled. No need to write any special code. It's pre-built for you.

Check the field rules for the customer_id field in the invoice_header table in AlphaSports. Accessible by right clicking the table name in the Alpha Five control panel.

[exeye]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Damn. It does just what I need.

What got me was the fact that there was no indication on the Customer_id field that it did anything special when you picked it. Users shouldn't have to "just know" stuff to use the application. I found a lot of stuff in AlphaSports that was awkward or non-obvious -- one of the things I'm trying to do is figure out if that unfriendliness comes from Alpha Five or just the way AlphaSports is designed.

So far my little test Invoice app is farther along than I'd expected, but I still have some pretty big hurdles to overcome. I don't need very many more 18-hour wild goose chases before I give up.

-jimc

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

Jim, oops. Sounds like you didn't know about field rules after all. Maybe you jumped in and started building without looking around first?

Permit me to make two suggestions for you:

a) stop what you're doing and read the User's Guide; and

b) if your wheels spin for an hour stop, search the message board for similar issues, and finally post a question if your search turns up empty.

No reason for ANY 18 hour wild goose chases.

PS - The user guide is also available in the documentation. Help // Open Documentation // Table of Contents tab // Tutorials // Alpha Five User Guide (Desktop)

[exeye]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

I've been busy reading, and working on my invoice app, which is much further along than I ever thought I'd get. Thanks for everyone's help.

I've run into a couple of things that have me baffled. I don't think they warrant threads of their own, so I'll ask here...

1) My invoice form disappeared yesterday, about the time I added two new fields to the Invoice-header table. Does changing a table layout cause forms that reference it to be deleted? If so, I don't think that's very user-friendly behavior. [I searched the message board when it happened and found out how to restore the deleted form by creating a new one with the same name and right-clicking on it to access A5's automatic form backups.]

2) I'm building a complicated report that has several conditional subreports. Each section generates zero or more numbered line items. I want to have a variable somewhere that keeps track of the sequential line number, but I can't figure out where to put code to increment it. Message board searches suggest that it may not be possible. Any suggestions?

As always, thanks for taking the time to help a beginner. I can figure things out pretty well, but when I get lost, a sentence or two pointing me in the right direction is greatly appreciated!

-jimc

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

1) My invoice form disappeared yesterday, about the time I added two new fields to the Invoice-header table. Does changing a table layout cause forms that reference it to be deleted?

Jim

How did you add fields to the table?

Via the form to edit the structure or xbasic add to table? Or another way?

Glad you recovered the form. That was a handy addition from Alpha.

Sometimes the lights go out unexpectedly. ( Not necessarily a computer issue...) (ie Super Bowl 47)

[exeye]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

How did you add fields to the table?

Via the form to edit the structure or xbasic add to table? Or another way?

I right-clicked on the table and picked Edit Structure. I added two fields to the end of the record. I'm assuming if I added one in the middle it would slide my data over to make room, but I'm very gunshy at this point and am not looking to push my luck...

Sometimes the lights go out unexpectedly. ( Not necessarily a computer issue...)

In my case it has nothing to do with electricity... :)

-jimc

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Populating a record with default values - Record List-Combo Box?

I right-clicked on the table and picked Edit Structure. I added two fields to the end of the record. I'm assuming if I added one in the middle it would slide my data over to make room, but I'm very gunshy at this point and am not looking to push my luck...

OK Thanks for the info. Always have a copy before making a structure change.

In my case it has nothing to do with electricity... :)

-jimc

My reference to the unexpected power outage at Super Bowl 47 tonight.