How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

[MoGrace]

I know its a long title... I have a form using buttons that I change the bitmap when the action is completed. This change is lost when the form is closed and reopened as it reverts back to the initial bitmap specified. So my question is - how can I save the last state of this "default" bitmap so I can initiate the form buttons with that property?

Thanks in advance.

Here is my screenshot:

stepmenu.jpg

Notice the orange ball shows a completed action on the left, and blue on the right. In this case the previous steps have been done but the payroll has not been submitted yet. I want the orange and blue (initially green) to stay like that so when I open the form again I know where I left off.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

You can't.

You can save the current setting as the form is closed to a (table field, text file, etc), retrieve it when the form is opened, and apply it then.

[MoGrace]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

Stan the man. I have been thinking I needed to put the values in a text file or something I don't know how to do. But a table, I can do that! Thanks.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

put the values in a text file or something I don't know how to do

dim somevar as C
somevar = "blue"
save_to_file(somevar,"c:\temp\settings.txt",.F.)

later

dim somevar as C
somevar = get_from_file("c:\temp\settings.txt")

[MoGrace]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

I was looking into that but there are 12 buttons and so I was looking at getting a list.

[Ted Giles]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

Robin, this a bit like tracking the process through a Workflow programme.
The STATUS at any point can be held against the record, so you can have stuff like Viewed, Pending, Verification, Posted etc.
I use Logical fieds to identify the status of invoices and change the colours of the item, but once you have a status, you can do anything.

[GGandhi]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

I have a form using buttons that I change the bitmap when the action is completed

alternatively, is it possible to add a logical field say completed and mark that completed when the action is completed and on the form onInit event can look at that field and place a checkmark or change the color of the bitmap circle?
I am not conversant in desktop methods, so I could be in a far off land.

[Ted Giles]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

Not far off at all G, that is how it works, or can be made to work.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

This might be simpler than a text file or a table.

dim myform as P
myform.Button1 = "Blue"
myform.Button2 = "Green"
myform.Button3 = "Blue"
myform.Button4 = "Blue"
myform.Button5 = "Blue"
myform.Button6 = "Red"
myform.Button7 = "Green"
myform.Button8 = "Blue"
'Save settings in Registry
:registry.save_settings("FormBtns", myform)


dim btnsettings as P
registry.load_settings("formBtns",btnsettings)
? btnsettings.Button1
= "Blue"
? btnsettings.Button2
= "Green"

[MoGrace]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

@Gandhi,
A checkbox was my first choice as well, but I didn't like the look of it. That and checkboxes cannot be sized. Also the color coding allows me to depict 3 stages of completion.

@Ted,
The status idea is not bad either, but I would need a status field for each button...

@Stan,
I have not tried this method of saving registry settings and will look into it. My thought is it could be saved in the CanExit event of the form, And loaded in the OnInit event?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

Agreed concerning the canexit.

Hope the oninit will work but not sure if the form objects exist when you want to set the colors. You might have to define a variable for the form, logical (.F.), and check that in the onactivare event. If false, retrieve and set the colors, then set the variable to true. That way if the form is deactivated and then reactivated the colors won't return to the unsaved current setting.

Might be overkill but the registry methods perform pretty quickly. You could save in the ondeactivate and set in the onactivate.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

If you want to automate saving the settings.

lst = parentform.Child_Enum("button")
dim btncolors as P
for each foo in lst
eval("btncolors."+foo.value) = eval("parentform."+foo.value+".fill.color")
next
registry.save_settings("formname_buttons",btncolors)

Retrieving them would just be the reverse.

[MoGrace]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

If you want to automate saving the settings.

lst = parentform.Child_Enum("button")
dim btncolors as P
for each foo in lst
eval("btncolors."+foo.value) = eval("parentform."+foo.value+".fill.color")
next
registry.save_settings("formname_buttons",btncolors)

Retrieving them would just be the reverse.

That looks promising! Except I am changing the button bit maps not the button color. I will give it a go and let you all know what worked or not this afternoon. And again thanks to all who responded.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

I was reminded off forum that this is likely not a good approach if the db is networked and more than one person would be relying on the bitmaps. The system registry is local to the machine opening and closing the form. The suggested code would error, if error handling were not added, when the form was opened elsewhere.

If that is the case than you can still use the code but instead of registry.save_settings() use

str = property_to_string(btncolors)
'save the string to a file
save_TO_FILE(str,"c:\mydata\dot_variables.txt") 'replace txt file location with networked location

then later

str = GET_FROM_FILE("c:\mydata\dot_variables.txt") 'replace txt file location with networked location
dim btncolors as P
btncolors.dummy = ""
property_from_string(btncolors, str)

[Ted Giles]

Re: How to save the default bitmap for a button when changed?

Robin, status could also be a 1char field.
Button could be conditional object. There are many levels you could go to. I think Mike went to about 28!!