Action Scripting not working

[kyosadls]

I have seen a few postings related to this problem, but none that I can utilize and that's possibly because of my programming illiteracy.

I have attached a zip of the (empty) database I'm having trouble with. On the Defendants tab I had place an Action Script button that is to call the companion form that was created for data entry, instead of the user inputting into the embedded browse directly. This worked fine for the Contacts and Cases tabs, but won't work for Defendants or Medical Records tabs. Don't even want to try one on the Medical Bills tab. The error message for each is consistent in that it states "Argument is Incorrect Data Type", although it may reference different line numbers in the script. The Defendants error references line 52 but there are only 45 lines in the script....? I can't see why it works for the Contacts and Cases tabs, but not these tabs.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Try again with the attachment. You may have to thin it down some.

[trackmanpete]

Re: Action Scripting not working

I may be off base with this, not seeing your database, but you might try accessing the form directly (Open form or browse) and linking via your common record_id instead of using the companion form in the Action Script. I sometimes had issues with the companion command, but had things working using the direct approach.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Hi Pete, love your image! I did try linking with a different key, but it made no difference. Plus when you choose to Enter New Record the key "goes away". The default is keyno() but I did try using the same primary key that I had created the set with.

I'll try reposting the DB as it didn't attach the first time.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Trying again. I left out some sets, hopefully this gets it under the line...

[trackmanpete]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Two things I see that I don't do. 1. I don't leave spaces between names for sets. I think, from reading, that is not good. 2. I use a lookup for the link field between the parent and child form. You need to create a lookup from the parent id field to the child id field so when you create the child, the parent id will automatically come up in the child field. In other words. Say client_id is in your parent file is 000001. You have a child file that generates an automatic defendant_id, but must also then generate the client_id # from the parent file (000001). From what I see your have a default "user entered" for the client_id in the child form (defendant) with no lookup. Once you have that connection, you can create a link that works correctly, I think.

I hope this makes sense, perhaps someone else with more experience can chime in, as well.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

I think I know what you mean. I based the form on a set that uses the client, case and defendant tables. Client to case uses Clientid as primary key, then case to defendant uses Caseid as primary key. Should I create a link in that same set from client to defendant using clientid as primary? And I think you're right about the space in the set. (By the way, thank you!)

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Tried the lookup table approach, does the same thing. I'm afraid to change those set names as it may corrupt all the forms I've done so far...? I will try copying them to a new set without the spaces. Doesn't explain why the contacts and cases Enter New Record buttons work - I used the same exact approach for them. Here's a snapshot of the lookup table, did I do something ridiculously dumb?

[trackmanpete]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Make a backup and work with that one, so you don't loose your forms. I tried working with your tables a bit more, but there are issues that need to be addressed, in my opinion. Keep in mind that you are working with parent and children and they need to be connected via some common ID number to work. I haven't seen anyone else chime in yet. Let me see if I can send along a sample db for you to look at. It may take a few minutes.

[trackmanpete]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Here is a simple version showing how the links work. I hope this helps and is correct...:)

If you double click on the browse in the set form, you get to the existing defendant form.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

I see what you did. I had set up the 3 tables in the set (client, case, defendant) because I wanted to pull the case number for the defendant form. I guess I could have done that another way and left it out of the set. The flow is that there is one client, many cases, many defendants for each case, many medical records for each case, many medical bills for each case, etc. Its been a tough one to start out on because of the various layers. So you're saying that when I get to the medical records panel I should just base the form on a client - medical records set? And so on for the medical bills? What about the lookup you mentioned before? I'm assuming I set that up in the field rules as in the jpg above.

[trackmanpete]

Re: Action Scripting not working

You can continue on with how you set up your other files, you just need to keep connected as I tried to show in the small sample. The medical file becomes a grandchild of the parent and is connected via id# of the defendant, its' parent, just as the defendant is connected to the client.

I hope this helps and I am leading you in the right direction. You might want to look at a couple of the sample databases supplied with Alpha 5. There is a sample called "Students and Classes" in the Template folder within Alpha 5 that may provide you with some good information.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Pete, I'm really struggling with this. I went back and created a set from client to defendants and created the form and the button and it worked like a charm. Then I went to the main form to recreate it and I can't because of the set that I have to use for the main form.

It may have to do with having the main form based on a set that includes all the tables (because the client wanted to be able to see all the "panels" at all time) so I added direct links from the client table to the defendant table (see attached). I realize it was a cludgy way to set up the database but I didn't know any other way to provide the client with what they wanted. But it still doesn't explain why the button on the contacts form works...its the same layout and there's no direct link between clients and contacts.....?

I also added lookups in the case and contact and defendant tables via field rules to pull the clientid from the client table. Still no luck. Why is it saying "Argument is incorrect data type"? I added a DefendantID field to the Defendants table but that didn't change the error. I've redone the embedded browse, no luck. Is there any other way that I can pull the Defendants form to allow a new record entry from a button? This is making me nuts and I know I'll have the same issue when I work on the medical records and medical bills tabs. Thanks for hanging in here with me...

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Action Scripting not working

It may have to do with having the main form based on a set that includes all the tables (because the client wanted to be able to see all the "panels" at all time)...

This is a common request, and it is often very poor design. Especially for applications that are intended to be used on a local area network. Visit www.learn alpha.com. Read the article "Simplify your applications for better performance". Adopt the design principles the author recommends.

[kyosadls]

Re: Action Scripting not working

Thanks Tom, I'll do that. This client wants a certain look to the database but I'm not sure that it can be done easily in AlphaFive (at least for someone with limited experience). From your experience, are you suggesting that I should completely redesign this? Can I ask why you say that it is poor design for a local area network?