I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

[G Gabriel]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

Mike:
I will take a look at the example later, time permitting, but:

a-Are you saying that you are using total() to total values from the parent not the child? And if so, why? why total() when you could use several other functions?

b-How did you arrive at the conclusion that total() is to blame for records disappearance? have you tried it with and without total() and that's how you came to that conclusion?

[Mike Wilson]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

Mike:
I will take a look at the example later, time permitting, but:

a-Are you saying that you are using total() to total values from the parent not the child? And if so, why? why total() when you could use several other functions?

b-How did you arrive at the conclusion that total() is to blame for records disappearance? have you tried it with and without total() and that's how you came to that conclusion?

G,
Yes to both questions.
I used total because I let Alpha generate the code for the calculated field and that's what it generated. When the calculated field is on the form, the problem manifests. Off the form, no problem. Tim_K found out that dbsum() works without a problem. It also manifests when the table has a base order expression in place. With total() and order expression - problem. With total and no order expression - no problem. It gets complex. Dbsum will work, so no need to spend any time on it unless you are curious or want a challenge.

Thanks.

[G Gabriel]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

I don't even understand why would alpha generate a calc field on a form using total() when they admittedly don't support it.
Actually, I do understand why:
Because total() does not require an index while dbsum does and therefore alpha does not (make this a wish list) go fishing for an index to place in a dbsum to generate on it's own. It's a lot more involved than total(). But, what is the excuse for not using tablesum() for instance? Ahh.. the filter. So, it is still more involved. So, alpha takes the path of least resistance.

Thus, I don't really see any reason to play around with this only to say: make your own calculations.

That said, I have 2 points to make:
Just because dbsum() uses an index that does not make it a better function. Ideally, you would have something that does not use an index. This sounds counterintuitive, but not really. I have to qualify that, but that's a different story. Since total() is not suited for a form and since dbsum (in my opinion) is not a great function as it relies on an index, then the best option left is a UDF.

Second point, and I am going to go down to the fish market with a megaphone and hopefully everyone will listen:
For Pete's sake, no form base filters and/or orders. How many threads with problems that were traced back to this base filters or orders. A base filter is like being thrown in the ocean to swim, with the sharks, wearing a straight jacket. Everything you do, whether you add, delete, edit, sort, filter..etc has to fit within the confines of this straight jacket called base filter. I wish alpha will get rid of it.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

For Pete's sake, no form base filters and/or orders

I want to see the transactions records in a browse in reverse date order, ie with the last event on top. How would you do that without a base order?

[G Gabriel]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

If and when you need a filter and/or a order, run a script to do just that, but don't smother the form with a base filter/order simply because at some point you will need it. It WILL cause you problems. Even if you get around the problem at hand that is the subject of this thread, it will cause some other problems in the future. It is not a good idea none whatsoever.

There are many ways to run such a script:
Run a saved operation if you wish, or
Run a script using say form.queryrun() or,
just run a script with query.create() or
run a UDF using query.create().

[Mike Wilson]

Re: I challange and implore participation and help with this wild problem

G,
OK. I will head that warning and pay attention to form based orders and filters given this little episode has cost me an amount of time trying to figure out that I am ashamed to admit! :o Thanks