Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

[MoGrace]

Like I said, I am trying to convert various XD lookup scripts I have into UDF's. But I can't get the UDF to return a value other than blank.

Ex:
Function LU_Company AS C ( go_rec as C = "" )
....xd stuff working as expected...
Lu_Company = go_rec
End Function

?LU_Company()
=""
'or
myvar = LU_Company()
?myvar
=""
The function renders a blank in the IW before the user even makes his selection.

I am obviously missing something in how this ought to be done... I have other functions that return
a value - but they are not using XD in them.

In this particular script the user selects the company name to get the ID and based on the company type, opens a form for that type (eg. Customers have more stuff to display, Vendors don't).

I want to make this a bit more generic so I can use the UDF in side other scripts where running a report instead of opening a form might be desired. So once the user selects his choice from the great looking
XD I made - I can do whatever with the ID the function ought to return.

Anybody have a similar working example?

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Don't see an issue.

Function LU_Company AS C ( go_rec as C = "" )
'....xd stuff working as expected...' maybe not
go_rec = "ABC" assign value to go_rec
Lu_Company = go_rec
End Function

? LU_Company()
= "ABC"

[MoGrace]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Maybe its where I put it in the script: after the ui_modeless_dlg_box() which is the next to last line, then
lu_company = go_rec - which is the last line before the END FUNCTION

I am tracing the changes to go_rec and it shows a value - plus the script opens the form to the correct record. It just won't return that value when I try it.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Shouldn't it be

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
'Date Created: 28-Aug-2014 06:16:28 PM
'Last Updated: 30-Aug-2014 04:50:59 PM
'Created By : Robin Q
'Updated By : Robin Q
FUNCTION LU_Company AS C (go_rec as C = "")

not sure that would cause what you're seeing.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

I would use debug(1) to trace what going on.

and/or write to the trace window - always like to do that with xdialogs.

[MoGrace]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Stan - I tried both go_rec = "" as c and go_ rec as c ="" - it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Al - I did write to the trace window and it shows the correct value for the variable. Something else is the matter here. I am not proficient with the debug feature.

Who's our function guru here?

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

The function is not returning a value because after firing up the modeless xdialog the function code continues and finishes before you get a chance to give 'go_rec' a value.
Change this line:
GoTo DirCode: [.15lu_list]
to
GoTo DirCode: [.15lu_list] GoTo DirCode: [.15go_rec]
So you can see the go_rec value and then call the function with a value for go_rec. ie ?lu_company("zz")

I am pretty sure I have a solution for you but I have to go find it in an app somewhere.

[MoGrace]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Thanks Tim, I will give it a go tomorrow

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Found it.
But firstly, if you made this a modal (not modeless) dialog then the code would wait for the dialog to close and you would have access to the go_rec value. I am not suggesting that you do this, you most likely have it modeless for a reason, but mention it to say this is the way a modal dialog would behave. So we want to get the same behaviour out of a modeless dialog.

To the rescue comes UI_WAIT_UNTIL(). Add this in as below.

vResult = ui_modeless_dlg_box(dlg_title,dlg_rolldown,rolldown_code)
[COLOR="#0000CD"]WaitResult = ui_wait_until(ui_modeless_dlg_exist(dlg_title) = .f.,.1)[/COLOR]
LU_Company = go_rec

Ui_wait_until() will keep testing every .1 of a second (you can change this) if the dialog with a particular name exists. As soon as the dialog no longer exists the waiting ends and the code continues.

So this will now give the main function a value to return. I am curious why you want a value returned since you seem to be handling the choices within the xdialog code.

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Hmmm, ok i reread your first post and it sounds like you want to change the purpose of this dialog a bit so that it only does the choosing of the ID. In this case you probably could change it to a modal xdialog and then the ui_wait_until function would not be necessary. The internals of the dialog code would need to be changed a bit to account for the way in which a modal dialog works. In the short term adding the ui_wait_until function may still be quicker.

[Al Buchholz]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Stan - I tried both go_rec = "" as c and go_ rec as c ="" - it doesn't seem to make any difference.

Al - I did write to the trace window and it shows the correct value for the variable. Something else is the matter here. I am not proficient with the debug feature.

Who's our function guru here?

Debug(1) will show the timing of events better than the trace window.

It's hard for us to test without the table(s), forms, and code.

[MoGrace]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Thanks Tim for the suggestions. I can see why a modal XD would accomplish what the modeless XD doesn't. I guess I can' t have it both ways! What I can do is set a global variable with this function and use that instead of trying to get the return from the function itself. I am testing a few ideas to see which way might work better - now that I have the roll up feature working, it looked promising. Eenie meenie ....

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Your welome Robin,

I have done similar using a global variable. In that case i use an xdialog with a tree control as an item picker setting a global variable. then a number of forms with different details on that item can be opened filtered for that item. The xdialog stays open permenantly docked to the side as a toolbar.

[MoGrace]

Re: Convert XD script to UDF and get a return value

Tim,
That sounds like a context menu rather than 'just' a menu. Could you show me a screenshot?