Displaying Plus sign

[barry685]

Is there a way to display a Plus sign in front of a numeric field (in the same position a negative sign would display)?

[csda1]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Hi Barry,

Is there a way to display a Plus sign in front of a numeric field (in the same position a negative sign would display)?

You can either convert it to a text string, and then add the "+" sign in front if over 0.

Or read the A5v9 (or possible a5v8) release notes on writing a custom format display for a form/browse field. See this thread where I posted a sample piece of code that did a custom format.

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Not sure about v9. In earlier versions you would create a calculated field and display that instead if you wanted to see the +.

if(numberfieldname>0,"+"+alltrim(str(numberfieldname,19,2)),alltrim(str(numberfieldname,19,2)))

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Ira,
When using the information in that thread (which for the moment I don't understand) does the field remain a numeric field or is it converted to character?
A friend of mine who is an optician wants me to try to write a program for him The prescriptions are entered with + & - signs & they are used in calculations.

[G Gabriel]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Just:
If(field>0,"+"+field,field)
will do.

That said,... it makes no sense to me.
Why?
Because this does not format the field you already have (there is no such format in alpha or anywhere that I am aware of for that matter) instead, it creates a calc field. So, if you are going to create a calc field anyway, why not just put a tiny calc field to the left of your numeric field (and leave it alone so you could edit it if you want) and make that calc field:
case(field>0,"+",field<0,"-",.t.,"").

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

The prescriptions are entered with + & - signs & they are used in calculations.

You can't enter a + in a numeric field in Alpha.

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Just:
So, if you are going to create a calc field anyway, why not just put a tiny calc field to the left of your numeric field (and leave it alone so you could edit it if you want) and make that calc field:
case(field>0,"+",field<0,"-",.t.,"").

I tried this & of course it worked however the display is weird. Because the - signs are in the field proper, but the + sign is outside the field.

By the way there are other products that do allow a + sign in a numeric field.
http://www.magicsoftware.com/2559-en/uniPaaS.aspx

[G Gabriel]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

I tried this & of course it worked however the display is weird. Because the - signs are in the field proper, but the + sign is outside the field.

By the way there are other products that do allow a + sign in a numeric field.
http://www.magicsoftware.com/2559-en/uniPaaS.aspx

OK..
Then use a calc character field and you could overlap it over the numeric field and make it such that if you want to edit the numeric field (i.e. click it or tab to it), it will send focus to the numeric which is behind the calc character one and the user won't know any different and once changes are saved, the calc character field with either the + or - will display and overlap the original numeric. More like an optical illusion.

In other words..
The calc character field will have on it's OnArrive event a script to hide it and send focus to the true numeric field behind it where you could edit it and on the OnSave event you have a script to show the calc character field in front of the numeric one.....and who will ever know that there are two fields in top of each other! It will all look like a numeric field with a +, a - or no sign in front of the number.

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Mr. G

That is an interesting workaround. Will see if I can get it done.

Thanks.

[gmeredith17]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Barry - The attached database shows an example of displaying field values in variables with the relevant + or - sign similar to what Ira was suggesting.

Check the form event - ontimer for the code.

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

I will try to study it & figure it out (very bad at Xbasic).
If the Num fields are left blank it displays a + sign.

Thanks

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Different approach using calculated fields. No xbasic.

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Thanks again.

[Bob Arbuthnot]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Barry,
No one else has directly mentioned this, so maybe I'm missing something, but values such as these would normally be recorded in a character field. I'm not an optician, but I don't think any math calculations are ever performed on the + or - numbers recorded. That is the usual criteria. If it's not a field that ever going to be involved in a calculation, then make it character in type.

Bob Arbuthnot

[barry685]

Re: Displaying Plus sign

Bob,

There are conversions done from a doctors prescription all the time. For instance You can have Bi focals, Distance, or reading glasses all made from the same prescription.