Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

[jds.activstyle]

Hello,

I know I saw a thread about it some time ago when I was simply browsing through the forums, however I can't seem to locate it again.

I'm wondering if there is a way to run some alpha5 forms outside of the contained alpha5 application. To clarify, I am working on an application which will have two windows showing at all times, each on a separate monitor; the first will be the interactive form to actually use the application, and the second will be a "report" (ie. form) which displays information pertinent to the application. The second window is actually going to be on a large wall-mounted monitor for the workers to see and will be updated on a timely basis.

I suppose I could potentially open up two shadow copies of my database, and set one on each monitor to display the correct information, but I think there's probably a better way to do this.

I am also fairly new to alpha5 and have been more or less teaching myself, so I'm sorry if there's an obvious solution I simply hadn't seen.

I'd be more than willing to clarify further as needed and thank you in advance for any assistance.

- JDS

[johnkoh]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

JD,

Maybe this http://cdctakecharge.wordpress.com/

[jds.activstyle]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

Thank you John.

For anyone who may stumble across this post, the specific entry which helped me is:
http://cdctakecharge.wordpress.com/2...t-application/

Another question:
After using Nick's tutorial to hide the main Alpha5 window by using the -HIDE command in the shortcut, I'm not able to bring it back up using a hotspot. I've tried the following and not had any success:

ControlPanel.Show()
ControlPanel.Activate()
controlPanel.Restore()
a5_windowbar_show()

If I simply hide the toolbar and control panel on load, the hot spot returns both however it will not do so when I use -HIDE.

This isn't a huge deal as the users won't need to access the control panel, and I can simply open the database differently when I need to make modifications, but it is a tad annoying.

Thanks,
- JDS

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

Try A5.show()

[natn1251]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

Hello JD
I just looked at the blog post you watched and I cannot believe I forgot to show how to restore Alpha 5. At the top of your hotspot add a5.show as stated in this thread. I encourage you to look through the blog for other cool programming tips and if you like what you see, give us a like or set yourself up to follow and you will be notified of each new post.
Thanks for stopping by.

[Ray in Capetown]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

excellent Nick.
Great job there

[natn1251]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

excellent Nick.
Great job there

Thanks Ray

For you and all other programmers who have figured out a cool tip or trick in Alpha Software I would be glad to add your solution to the blog. Just send the tip with some general discussion and include a short video if you can to

[email protected]

and I will feature it on the site giving the author full credit. Also if you have a request for a particular issue let me know and I will work the solution in a future post.

[jds.activstyle]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

Tim/Nick,

Thank you both for responding - putting a5.show() is exactly what was needed. I do have another small item which is causing an issue regarding this now.

When I close out of the application, either by closing the pop-up forms (I know, this should not be done as nothing tells a5 to close), or by clicking an exit button on the form, which simply runs a5.close(), the Alpha 5 process isn't being killed which means if I attempt to run the application again, it's displaying a message stating that the license count is exceeded. If I kill the a5 process in Task Manager, I can then open the application normally.

If, however, I click on the hotspot and bring up the Control Panel, and click Exit through this, the process is correctly stopped - am I missing something when closing the application? Some of our other applications only use a5.close() and do not have hung processes, but those applications also do not use popup forms.

Thank you,
- JDS

[johnkoh]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

JD,

I have not tried the "Nick" way yet.
Try this

'Exit Alpha Five.
a5_ForceCloseTables()
a5_force_close_all()
a5_close_all_windows()
:a5.close()

[jds.activstyle]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

John,

Thank you for the quick reply, unfortunately - no dice; the process is still hung as a background process.

I could probably create a .bat file to perform a taskkill on exit, however it simply seems odd to me that closing through the control panel works and their isn't a simple way to recreate that type of application close.

- JDS

[johnkoh]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

JD,

I have tried and used ActionScript for Exit Alpha Five. It works on here and no hang problem.

Nick_way_close.jpg

[jds.activstyle]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

John,

Using the action script was the first thing which I tried to use in the exiting of the application.

I have attached a screenshot showing that action being used for exiting. In the screenshot, I have also added the .startup file associated with the application being used, as well as a screenshot of the task manager after attempting to close the application using any method I could find through Action Scripting or XBasic code. As stated before, the only time this process is cleared is when I exit the program by clicking the 'X Exit' button or File->Exit within the Alpha5 control panel itself.

A5CloseIssue.jpg

[johnkoh]

Re: Forms Not Bound Within Alpha5

JD,

I have the same problem here. I cannot open the same DB again after exit from menu.
hang.jpg