Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Is it possible to open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an already opened ui_dlg_box().

The first ui_dlg_box() isn't that large and usually will be moved to a location on the screen to
facilitate data entry. During the process, it's possible for a second ui_dlg_box() to be opened
that will display an error message.

Currently when the second ui_dlg_box opens, it is centered in the screen. The first ui_dlg_box()
could have been moved to the upper left hand corner.

Appreciate your thoughts.

Ron

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

Don't do a lot with dialogs. Can the error message be open as embedded in the first or is the error dialog shared among other data entry dialogs?

[G Gabriel]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

I am sorry, but I do not understand your question...
What is the purpose of the second dialog that will display the error message?
Isn't to alert the user to the error? or that, there is an error somewhere?
And once the user is aware of the error, wouldn't s/he close that dlg box and proceed from there?
And once it's closed, what does it matter where on the screen it was?
That's of course, unless you want to keep both of them open for some other reason..

With all that said, you could position the dialog anywhere you want..be glad to illustrate how if I have a better understanding of what you are trying to accomplish.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

I have an xDialog for data entry. On it are some buttons to fetch through the records. First, Last, Previous and Next.
When clicking on the Previous and Next buttons, I am displaying a friendly message saying "No More Items...."
After one second, the message goes away so the user doesn't have to click the OK button. The message box itself is not very large.

As the data entry xDialog is not very large, when moved to the upper left hand corner of the screen, the friendly message being in the
middle of the screen can be missed.

This whole exercise is solely to make the application more user friendly. I just try to make the user interface into what I feel is
professional looking.

''handle NAVIGATION buttons, this can only happen if the "record" is not dirty ****************
IF inlist2(a_dlg_button, "first,previous,next,last,PgUp,PgDn") THEN
	SELECT
		CASE a_dlg_button = "first"
			tbl.fetch_first()
			get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
			orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			
		CASE a_dlg_button = "previous"
			IF tbl.bof() THEN
				NoMore()	'no more to fetch message
			ELSE
				tbl.fetch_prev()
				get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
				orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			END IF
			
		CASE a_dlg_button = "next"
			IF tbl.eof() THEN
				NoMore()	'no more to fetch message
			ELSE
				tbl.fetch_next()
				get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
				orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			END IF
			
		CASE a_dlg_button = "last"
			tbl.fetch_last()
			get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
			orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
	END SELECT

FUNCTION NoMore as V ()
	XDialogStyle.AccentColor = "Off White"
	XDialogStyle.Color = "Blue White"
	
	ui_dlg_box("Oops",<<%dlg%
{units=F}{font=Calibri,12}{xmargin=4,4}{ysize=.3}
{Windowstyle=Gradient Horizontal};;
{timer=close}{interval=1}
	No More Items...;;
%dlg%)
end function

[G Gabriel]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

OK..that's better..
Couple more questions:
1-Is this modal/modeless?
2-When you say "when moved to the upper left hand corner of the screen"
Is that done by the user? Your script? what?

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

I'm working with a ui_dlg_box(). The user can move the dialog anywhere they want on the screen.
I'm using the following to remember the dialogs location.

{position=remember=dlg_title}

dim dlg_title as C
dlg_title = "Enter Item"

DIM XDialogStyle as P
XDialogStyle.AccentColor = "Off White"
XDialogStyle.Color = "Blue White"
DIM SHARED varC_result as C
varC_result = ui_dlg_box(dlg_title,<<%dlg%
{position=remember=dlg_title}
{on_key=enter}
{units=F}{font=Calibri,12}{xmargin=4,4}{ysize=.3}
{Windowstyle=Gradient Horizontal};;

{region}
Item:| [%v%30.32rec.Item^+a_vcItem!chg_item];;
Description:| [%v%30.32rec.Description^+a_vcDescript!item_*];;
Price:| [16.18rec.Price!change];;
{endregion};

{line=1,0};;;

{font="Verdana",7}
{region}
 <%I=$a5_record_first%First Record!first?.not.dirty>
 <%I=$a5_record_previous%Previous Record!previous?.not.dirty>
 <%I=$a5_record_next%Next Record!next?.not.dirty>
 <%I=$a5_record_last%Last Record!last?.not.dirty>;;
{font="Calibri",12}
{initial_focus}<&New?.not.dirty><&Save?dirty><&Cancel?dirty> <&Delete?.not.dirty>{sp=10}<Cl&ose?.not. dirty>;
{endregion};

%dlg%,<<%code%

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

I just posted a working example of my project in the code archive. Download the zip file. Open the form, click on the items button, you will see the xDialog I'm working with and the error message I'm trying to locate.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

To be clear, what you want is for the second dialog to follow the first one wherever it goes.
You have several options:
1-Use the second dialog as an embedded dialog, or
2-Instead of the second dialog, use conditional control, or
3-Use {text} to show the message, or
4-In the second dialog use {remember} as you did in the first one, but here refer to the first dialog and preferably its triggering control and use one of the other options of {remeber} such as mouse, dropdown..etc. or,
5-Which is an ugly option, make the second dialog big enough where it cannot be missed.
Personally, I would go with option 3 and sometimes, I make the text blink so it cannot be missed..

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

I tried #3, but I couldn't figure out how to refresh the dialog changing the {text} from "" to "No More Items..." and then back to "".

[G Gabriel]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

What do you use as a test that there are no more records?

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

		CASE a_dlg_button = "previous"
			IF tbl.bof() THEN
				NoMore()	'no more to fetch message
			ELSE
				tbl.fetch_prev()
				get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
				orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			END IF
			
		CASE a_dlg_button = "next"
			IF tbl.eof() THEN
				NoMore()	'no more to fetch message
			ELSE
				tbl.fetch_next()
				get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
				orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			END IF

FUNCTION NoMore as V ()
	XDialogStyle.AccentColor = "Off White"
	XDialogStyle.Color = "Blue White"
	
	ui_dlg_box("Oops",<<%dlg%
{units=F}{font=Calibri,12}{xmargin=4,4}{ysize=.3}
{Windowstyle=Gradient Horizontal};;
{timer=close}{interval=1}
	No More Items...;;
%dlg%)
end function

[G Gabriel]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

At the top of your script:

dim v_txt as C
v_txt=""

In the body put:

{text=v_txt};

At the code section:

CASE a_dlg_button = "previous"
			IF tbl.bof()
				V_txt="No more records"
			ELSE
                                v_txt=""
				tbl.fetch_prev()
				get_tbl_fields(tbl,rec)
				orig_str = property_to_string(tbl)
			END IF

Same with tbl.eof()

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

Darn that was simple. But...... how would you make V-txt automatically go back to "" after 1 second.

[Ronald Anusiewicz]

Re: Open a second ui_dlg_box() centered over an existing ui_dlg_box()

Figured it out. Added this to the ui_dlg_box()

{watch=v_txt!Clear}

Then this to the <<%code%

case a_dlg_button = "Clear"
  if v_txt <> "" then
  sleep(1)
  v_txt = ""
end if

Thanks G.