Using user login to filter

[Larry Gordon]

I want to filter the records in a browse on a desktop form, according to which user is logged in. I want to filter on the 'Name' field. The contents of the name field are from a simple list which matches up with User login names. (Tools/Security/Define Users and Groups).

On the web side I have a filter, i.e. 'Name = :WhatUser' and it works just fine. However, I have been unsuccessful in writing a similar filter expression for my desktop browse.

Any help would be greatly appreciated.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Using user login to filter

USER_NAME()
Syntax
String as C = USER_NAME()

Description
USER_NAME() returns the name of the current logged on user. Requires that the database be password protected.

Supported By

Alpha Five Version 5 and Above

Limitations

Desktop applications only.

See Also

Security Functions

[MoGrace]

Re: Using user login to filter

When the user logs in you could set a global var and use that in your filter.

[Larry Gordon]

Re: Using user login to filter

Many thanks. That's exactly what I needed.

[K2kcc]

Re: Using user login to filter

Hi

I have exactly the same need as Larry, I've tried user_name() in both an index filter and as a global variable in the index filter without any success.

What am I doing wrong?

Regards,

Keith

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Using user login to filter

Before we can tell you what's wrong you need to tell us what you are doing, where, and when. What do you mean by index filter? The filter expression for an index isn't dynamic. IOW if you create an index and if has a filter something like user = user_name(), that index will be filtered for the current user, period.

You likely need to query for records incorporating user = user_name() to use the current user value.

[K2kcc]

Re: Using user login to filter

Hi Stan

Ok, I have a simple table with a field named "Designer". I'm trying to have a browse filtered for each login user who's names match the value in the table so that they can see only their orders. I've created an index named "D_user", ordered on the "designer" field and have the following expression in the filter: designer=user_name(). That didn't work so I created a global variable named UserN with the expression =user_name() and used it in the index filter as: designer=var->userN. That didn't work either....

I've found a work around by using the global variable in the filter in the browse itself. I was hoping not to do that as I use that browse in other areas and wanted to have a script call the index when it was needed to filter the designer.

I'm sure I've missed something in the index filter as I use filters on other indexes but never had this problem before

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Using user login to filter

Is the browse stand alone or on a form?

I'm sure I've missed something in the index filter as I use filters on other indexes but never had this problem before

Filtered indexes are fine but remember that the index values are created at the time the index is built and updated as records are added, deleted, or modified. The whole index is not rebuilt just because another user logs in. To say it another way, if George is logged in and you build the index with the filter designer=user_name(), only George's records are included in the index list.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Using user login to filter

For testing purposes, create a button on a form (with this code) or just try this in the interactive window.

browse.ViewQueried("your_browse_name","designer = "+quote(user_name())

substituting your actual your_browse_name.

Create an index on designer, not filtered.

Should be very fast because the filter will use the index to decide which records to show.

[K2kcc]

Re: Using user login to filter

Hi Stan

The browse is stand alone now, it was being used embedded in a form. No big deal to make another one.

The issue I was having was that the index filter was returning a null result and not showing any records which I thought was strange.

Of course the problem I'm seeing now is that when I change login users, the filter in the browse isnt updating and still showing the records for the previous user and wont reset unless I shut the system down and log back in as another user, just changing login users on the fly doesnt work.

Browse filter.jpg

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Using user login to filter

Take the filter out of the browse properties. Use the code suggested for a button to open the browse but add the other part of the filter.
browse.ViewQueried("your_browse_name","designer = "+quote(user_name()+" .and. stage = 'quote'")

Wherever you allow a different user to login add the code

if is_object("your_browse_name")
your_browse_name.close()
end if

This will force the browse to close when another user logs in, if it is open. When the new user uses the button to open the browse it will be filtered to their records.

For an embedded browse you could change to

form.ViewQueried("your_form_name","designer = "+quote(user_name()+" .and. stage = 'quote'")

if is_object("your_form_name")
your_form_name.close()
end if

[K2kcc]

Re: Using user login to filter

Hi Stan

That worked perfectly

Thx again for your help

Keith