Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

[BEAMER]

I need to display on a form, an image based on what is in a field within the A5 database ..

example .. if the field "A" has c:\image.jpg" in it .. then on this form for this record, I need to display the image "image.jpg" . I can see how you can display the image if it is already store as a bitimage withing the A5 record ..

Can anyone help .. A5 indicates that it can be done .. now I need to know how to do it ...

tanx.. for your help

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

The solution depends on what you mean by

to display on a form

Do you want to be viewing a form and open the desired image in the native application for displaying that image type? - Use a button with the code sys_open(alltrim(yourfieldname.value))

Do you want the image to be "embedded" in the form? - Add an image file reference field to the database.

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

We use a bitmap field on the form and in the on_fetch event, we point the bitmap field to the image file name from the table. the field is defaulted to a "no Image available" jpg when the form is developed.

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Tom, this sound exactly what I want to do .. is there a chance I can call you or contact you somehow to get the details of how you do this in A5 ..

I am technical, but not an A5 guru ..

If there is a cost to help . .not a problem at this time...

Don

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

parentform:bitmapobjectname.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:Tables:tablename.fieldname)

bitmapobjectname is the name of the bitmap object on the form
tablename is the name of the table containing the field that holds the path and filename of the bitmap to be dsiplayed
fieldname is that field

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Tom, I just did more investigation as to your solution .. and we are running A5V11 .. and there is no such property (on_fetch) available.

What am I missing ...

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

thanks Stan .. I will look at this as well ..

I am really going to show my lack of understanding .. but where would this go in the design, and what forces the executionof this instruction tanx.. Don

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

We use a bitmap field on the form and in the on_fetch event, we point the bitmap field to the image file name from the table.

As Tom indicated, you use the onfetch event of the form. As the user moves through the records, the code processes the image name in the new record and changes the bitmap on the form to match.

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Stan, thank you for trying to help me .. this is what I have found .. remember V11 ...

I am in the Code Editor on the form called TestForm and doing this in Xbasic.

When I start I type in "Te" and get the drop down options and see "Testform." which I select however it is "." not ":".

I change it to a ":" and now get the bitmapobjectname "mfglogo".

The string now shows .. "TestForm:mfglogo." and there is a drop down .. but there is not option "bitmap"

If I can give you some details, perhaps that can help ...

Form Name is "TestForm"
Bit Map Object Name is "MFGLOGO"
Field name is "hallwebpagemfg->MFGLOGO"
the field object name that contains the full path to the bitmap file is called "IMAGEPATH"
The Field name is "hallwebpagemfg->IMAGEPATH"

When I try to entry your suggestion it is not accepted

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Not sure why you're typing that when you can copy and paste and edit or drag-drop from the xbasic explorer.

parentform:bitmapobjectname.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:Tables:tablename.fieldname)

becomes

parentform:MFGLOGO.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:Tables:hallwebpagemfg.IMAGEPATH)


I'll put together a sample and attach it.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Since the path is stored in the table field you need the same directory structure as my sample. Unzip this to your C drive and it should create the proper structure. (c:\tempdb\dynamic bitmap and c:\tempdb\dynamic bitmap\pics)

dynamic.zip

If you put the field "imagepath" on the form, even if you hide it, you can then use

parentform:MFGLOGO.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:imagepath.value)

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Stan, I really want to thank you for the help you are providing me ..

I have your example working ... and it lead to a couple of questions.

1 - re the "pics" directory .. is this necessary due to how A5 works ... ?

2 - Below is the code I have created "OnFetch" .. there is one issue

....................

'Date Created: 15-Nov-2013 12:10:24 PM
'Last Updated: 16-Nov-2013 09:34:39 AM
'Created By : SMathews
'Updated By : Don Beam
dim default_file_path
default_file_path ="d:\A5Test\pics\def.bmp"
'
if len(alltrim(parentform:Tables:test.N)) > 0 then
parentform:tool_select1.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:Tables:test.N)
else
parentform:tool_select1.bitmap.filename = default_file_path
end if

....................

This is working for the conditions where there is no record path defined ... however, if you modify the record path .. it does not update the image .. however if you record advance, or go back .. and then go to the record that was changed... the image is changed ...

I then added the same xbasic code into the "onchange" event for the field ... ..

this is a coding question, but can I create a sub that needs to be mantained in one location and is fired by the form onfetch or the field onchange?

Thanks again .. it works...

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

The pics directory is just a convenience to keep the database directory from becoming cluttered with non database files. It could be any other directory on the drive.

With this little code a sub is not really a big deal but I see your point. On the code tab of the control panel create a new function. I think the function, called from the form, will be able to use the context of parentform.

function chg_image as L ()
chg_image= .F.
dim default_file_path
default_file_path ="d:\A5Test\pics\def.bmp"
'
if len(alltrim(parentform:Tables:test.N)) > 0 then
parentform:tool_select1.bitmap.filename = alltrim(parentform:Tables:test.N)
else
parentform:tool_select1.bitmap.filename = default_file_path
end if
chg_image = .T.
end function

Then the code for the onfetch and onchange events would be

if chg_image()
'worked ok
else
ui_msg_box("Alert","There was a problem executing the chg_image() function.")
end if

[BEAMER]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Again Stan, thanks for the info and your help ..

Have a great weekend...

Don

[Tom Henkel]

Re: Display an image based on the on the contents of a database field.

Sorry I took so long to get back. I was out of the office on Friday.

I've attached a sample of a form with a bitmap field on it.

This is the code used to initialize the field which is in the "on_fetch" event of the form.
"badgeno" is the field in the table "g_employ" that corresponds to the .jpg filename in the folder "g:\photo"

if no file is found with that badge number, then I place a "default" image ( "g:\bcbss\photo"+chr(92)+"not_avail.jpg") into the bitmap.

'Date Created: 21-Jul-2010 02:57:30 PM
'Last Updated: 13-Mar-2012 08:36:00 AM
'Created By  : Thomas Henkel
'Updated By  : Thomas Henkel
DIM tc as P
DIM G_EMP as P
dim badgeno as N
tc = table.current()

G_EMP = table.open("g:\bcbss\employee\g_employ.dbf",FILE_RO_SHARED)
g_emp.index_primary_put("Emp_ID")
found = G_EMP.fetch_find(tc.Emp_ID)
if found >0
	badgeno = G_EMP.badge_no
	dim Shared pict AS C
	pict = alltrim(str(badgeno,9,0))
	bmpfile = "g:\bcbss\photo"+chr(92)+trim(pict)+".jpg"
		
	if .not.file_exists(bmpfile) then
		bmpfile = "g:\bcbss\photo"+chr(92)+"not_avail.jpg"
	end if
  else
  	bmpfile = "g:\bcbss\photo"+chr(92)+"not_avail.jpg"
end if
g_emp.close()
topparent:Bitmap1.bitmap.filename = bmpfile
delete name1
delete pict
delete badgeno

end

Hope this helps,

Tom