search onchange

[Riverguy]

I would like to be able to find a record in a set based on the a_FIELD_VALUE variable after I edit a field in a form. Can't seem to find a function that does what I want... Any suggestions/hints? Here's what I have:
___________________________
'ABORT ENTERING NEW RECORD
cancel()

'SHOW WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE VARIABLE. (TYPE = TEXT)
ui_msg_box(" Value was",a_field_value.value)

'TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T WORK: topparent.find(a_field_value.value)

'TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T WORK: fetch_find(convert_type(A_FIELD_VALUE.value,"D"))

'It seems like something should do this?

set.fetch_find(A_FIELD_VALUE.value)
___________________________

OOps. My original post went to the wrong forum.

[Davidk]

Re: search onchange

I went a bit simpler... just used Actions. This runs from the OnChange event of a dropdown... looking for a record id. Is this what you want to do?

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: search onchange

I would like to be able to find a record in a set based on the a_FIELD_VALUE variable after I edit a field in a form. Can't seem to find a function that does what I want... Any suggestions/hints? Here's what I have:
___________________________
'ABORT ENTERING NEW RECORD
cancel()

'SHOW WHAT IS CONTAINED IN THE VARIABLE. (TYPE = TEXT)
ui_msg_box(" Value was",a_field_value.value)

'TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T WORK: topparent.find(a_field_value.value)

'TRIED THIS AND IT DIDN'T WORK: fetch_find(convert_type(A_FIELD_VALUE.value,"D"))

'It seems like something should do this?

set.fetch_find(A_FIELD_VALUE.value)
___________________________

OOps. My original post went to the wrong forum.

Scot,

I guess I am confused about what you are trying to do. If you want the value of a field on the form before you cancel entering a new record, why don't you just get that value before canceling the enter? For example:

dim fld as c
fld=parentform:yourfield.value
msgbox(fld)

Raymond Lyons

[Riverguy]

Re: search onchange

Sorry if I wasn't all that clear but here's what I am trying to do: When a value (specifically a date) is changed in a field, I want to display the record that contains that value in an indexed field into the form. I know it has to be simple but since I am new, I can't find the function/method that searches an indexed key to find it. In old xbase/clipper the function to use was seek(). In essence, all I want to know is, how do you search for and display a given record from a set on a form. Secondarily, I read that the a_field_name variable contains the keyboard buffer data that I want to search for. It would be like opening a form and entering the recno() and going to that record. Seems like it should be easy with all the other cool stuff I am seeing alpha do but I dunno. Helpful?

[Raymond Lyons]

Re: search onchange

Scott,

I still don't get what you are up to. If you cancel an Enter new record, how can you possibly go to that record? In any case I think you need to read the Help file a bit more. For one thing a_field_value.value is normally (and possibly by necessity) used in field rule events, not where I suspect you are trying to use it, though I could be wrong. Probably you need to look in the help file index for <TBL>.FETCH_FIND() <TBL>.FETCH_FIND() and go from there. If this does not help, maybe someone else has a better idea of what you are up to--I probably won't be back until Sunday.

Raymond Lyons

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: search onchange

Scott, welcome to the message board and Alpha Five. Your question seems simple but only because you seem unfamiliar with default Alpha Five behavior.

1) When your form opens, the tables supporting it are opened, too. Objects displaying table data on your form are automatically bound to the underlying tables. You should never use such a field to collect a search key from the user. In the process of entering the search key the user will actually be changing the table data displayed on the form. You can tell this is happening by watching the form mode indicators. Your form will go into CHANGE mode. Navigating to another record with a scripted search could cause the pending change to be saved. A result you don't want in most cases.

2) A better approach would be to get the search key from the user by means of a variable that is populated by the user with the control of your choice. You can use a dialog box, a "ui_get" action script, list box, etc.

3) There is no seek() for sets. Instead, there's "find by key" for tables. Your question confuses us because we can't tell what you're trying to do. If you want to navigate to a different record in the primary table of your set the sequence in code is easy:
a) check the mode of your form. If user edits are pending either commit them automatically, or find out whether the user wants to save or cancel;
b)set an index primary that will correspond to the search key you collect from the user;
c) do a fetch_find(). Check the help file discussion of <tbl>.fetch_find().
d) set the primary index back to what the user was using before the script began

If you use a pointer to the primary table of your set the found record will be displayed automatically, along with its linked children.

Fetching through a linked child table, and finding a parent table record using a search key that is present only in a child table are different matters.

Before diving into code, I strongly recommend that you spend several hours playing with and exploring the "default form" for a table, and the "default form" for a set. Learn how the built in functionality works. Explore all the Find and Query options. Discover when alpha automatically saves changes. Time spent here, with the user guide at your side, will save you tons of time later on when you start coding.

-- tom

[Riverguy]

Re: search onchange

Thanks all. I think I am heading in the right direction now.