Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

A bit late to the party but....

I took a slightly different approach. Attached is copy of the wo form in the previous example (now removed).
From the note I placed on the form.

The dropdowns here are set to get their choices populated by xbasic. This is setup in the properties of each control. The populating code is in the onFetch event of the form and the OnChange event of the MATRIX control. The OnChange event also clears these controls when the Matrix id changes forcing the user to re choose using the correct choices.

This way there is no need to be manipulating tables. This has an added benefit which I did not realise till just now. In a multi user situation user B could repopulate the dsize table while user A is working on their open record.

EDIT: the code in the OnFetch event is

dim id as N = table.current().matrix_id
Dim t_dtg as P
dim LkpData as C = ""
dim i as N = 0


t_dtg = table.open("dtg_size",FILE_RO_SHARED)
t_dtg.index_primary_put("Matrix_Id")

If t_dtg.fetch_find(id)>0 then
	For i = 0 to 14
		LkpData = LkpData + eval("t_dtg.dSize" + i) + crlf()
	Next
	LkpData = remove_blank_lines(LkpData)
	LkpData = "" + crlf() + LkpData
end if
t_dtg.close()



topparent:Dff.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData
topparent:Dlc.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData
topparent:Drc.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData
topparent:Dls.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData
topparent:Drs.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData
topparent:Dfb.Settings.Dynamic_list = LkpData

[MoGrace]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

I'm feeling a bit useless - (except perhaps for getting the heavy weights here to look at it). ;)

[preston2]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

Thanks Tim,

I was totally unaware that you could populate a drop-down using an event. Will give this a strong look.


And Robin,

Don't feel useless. A lot of times your comments spark some inspiration and help in finding a solution. Besides that, with these types of threads we all seem to learn things.

Later this year I will start developing a Web app using another development system. Mainly because I do not like Alpha's approach being locked into a WAS. The down side is their user message board is no where near as good as this one. This message board is the best thing Alpha has going for them and every person here has helped me in one way or the other. A lot of times someone just asking a question here sparks a lot of useful information. Needless to say, my apps would not be able to do what they can do if not for the information people ask and post on this message board.

So again, Thanks to all.

[preston2]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

I see Tim,

The xbasix is in the forms OnFetch event. Slick. And you are right, this would be a much better solution in a multi-user environment.

I removed the download link above because I wanted to update it.

Here it is again with my long winded script and also Tim's solution. Form wo_main uses my code and would use Stan's code by replacing mine in the dsize2 script. Form wo_copy uses Tim's method.

Mat_example

[preston2]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

On further investigation and testing I found that my method caused intermittent errors when running the calculation scripts in my app.

Tim's method seems to be stable so that is the method I will use.

Thanks again.

EDIT: I think I found out why my method was causing intermittent errors but I am going to stay with using Tim's method.

[MoGrace]

Re: Getting fields in a record into a drop down list.

I have a question for Tim:

Have you tried to get values in a lookup list like this for 2 fields using this construct? Right now my lookup is on a natural key that fills in the primary too which the user seldom sees.

I have several table lookups defined in field rules where the data is pretty much static and a dynamic list would be perfect if I could fill in more than one field with the lookup data. I see you put this code in the form's OnFetch which means the table is opened and updates the list for each record fetched, rather than just in the OnInit event for the form. That seems like at least as much overhead (or more?) as using the field rule.

EDIT: So far this seems an exercise in futility. I created the list in the form's OnInit event and defined my natural key field as a combo box. The lookup works great for that field. But to get the text to change, I have to use the field's OnChange event and then I lose the original text so the other field is blank!

dim shared vTxt as c
vTxt = this.value
if "^" $ vtxt then
'also triggers the change event and changes vTxt
this.value = word(vtxt,1,"^")
'there is no 2nd word to put here
dircode.value = word(vtxt,-1,"^")
end if