How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

[MikeData]

How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus or the cursor is on it?
Is it possible to assign that name to a variable?
I tried A_CURRENT_FIELD.NAME_GET() and it did not work for me. Must likely I did use it wrong.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Documentation says...........

The <OBJECT>.ACTIVE() method returns the name of the control with focus. If the .T. flag is specified, then a fully qualified name is returned. E.g. : sales.active(.T.)

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Thanks for the indication. That is step closer.
I am still in the dark as how to implement this method.
The name of the form is Jobsform and the global variable is gFldname.
If I place this code in a button like : gFldname = convert_type(a5_eval_expression("=Jobsform.ACTIVE()",local_variables()),"c")
and click it , I get the global to display = control_button1, which is where the focus is as of last clicking.

But if I use any of the following, as I do not have a sample as to what is name.
gFldname = jobsform.ACTIVE
gFldname = name.ACTIVE
gFldname = object.ACTIVE
gFldname = field.ACTIVE in the declaration of calculated variables area

in a claculated global, it does not work at all. while moving in the form.

How to apply it?

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

....

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

I cant understand what you are trying to do?
Explain without code.

If you press a button to tell you what object has focus then you have moved focus away and onto the button control.
Then you will need .ACTIVE_PREV()

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Good point. This is almost working.
This code is in a button.

' the next line assigns global gFldname2, the name of the field in focus as I click this button. Perfectly.

gFldname2 = convert_type(a5_eval_expression("=Jobsform.ACTIVE_PREV()",local_variables()),"c")

'OK so far, it works.
'------------------------------------------
DIM form_name as c
if is_object(topparent.this) then
form_name = topparent.name()+".this"
else
form_name = ""
end if

DELETE expression_result
expression_result = eval("''",form_name)

'The next line will erase the value of a field called usetool.
' to finish this code I need to replace the field name "usetool" with gFldname2 value
' so in other words whenever I am in any character field, this line will erase that field.

'parentform:Usetool.value = expression_result

parentform:????????.value = expression_result

'what will be the code to place before .value?

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

eval(this.Active_Prev()+".value") = whatever
or
eval(parentform.Active_Prev()+".value") = whatever

eval(parentform:Active_Prev()+".value")=.. does not work (in IW anyway)

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

One line : eval(parentform.Active_Prev()+".value") = "" does the trick

Perfect, Thanks

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

I though I was home free and the code will work almost everywhere, but not.

I did try to put in a button in a toolbar as a custom button.
I did tried first using the code as the button in the form, It did not work.
I create an script called clearfield and with few commands and did not work.
Attached is a sample with a form called jobsform.
The clear button works well in all the character fields
The toolbar button clearfield, does not, as the code in the script it wrong.
Any suggestions as a proper command?

The objective to this, is to clear, primarily those choice fields that are table based.
I have multiple forms with many of them and they are troublesome to clear.
That is the reason for the button in the toolbar.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Correction...

The form object doesn't lose focus when you use a toolbar so you need to go back to

eval(parentform.Active()+".value") = ""

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

The eval(parentform.Active()+".value") = "" is not accepted in the custom button in the toolbar.

On the other hand this code (found in the predefined button"CUT")
'E'$topparent.command('?EDIT_CUT').and.(a5_is_field_active(topparent.this))

is used in the toolbar to cut what ever is in focus.

How could I edit the cut code above to assign a "" to a field in the same manner.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Your toolbar button (in your sample) runs a global script. Modify the global script. Worked for me.

The eval(parentform.Active()+".value") = "" is not accepted in the custom button in the toolbar.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. If you change the Button Action to Run Xbasic you can put any valid xbasic directly on the toolbar button.

[MikeData]

Re: How to get the name of a field in a form that has the focus?

Yes, Yes, is done. I got it to work even on some of those bothersome choice fields.
What a relief.
Thanks Stan and Ray for all for your help.