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Drop down list problem

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    Drop down list problem

    I am using drop down lists to fill in a number of fields on forms in my application, I have suddenly started to notice that when I type something into one of these boxes, if I get a match it is always displayed off the bottom of the drop down list which is very annoying and means that I have to scroll the list down before I can select the correct item! Is there any way to force the matching item to appear at the top of this list instead?

    See 2 screen shots for example first shows item disappearing off the bottom of the list second shows result after scrolling down a bit.

    Has anyone else noticed this and have a work around?

    Many thanks,

    Alastair

    #2
    Re: Drop down list problem

    If there is a match, I am not sure why you have to scroll at all, just hit Enter. But OK... another approach..Use a progressive lookup.

    http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...ht=progressive
    Mike W
    __________________________
    "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Drop down list problem

      Hi Mike,

      Thanks for your reply, the reason I don't want to press enter is because the displayed list contains part numbers initially, followed by a description, which means as I start typing in the text I am after there could be a number of items selected; usually over 20 or more, so pressing enter wouldn't necessarily select the correct item and having to scroll downwards each time is a real pain - I am fairly sure in my distant memories of doing something similar using Access (sorry about my language!!!) that it used to display the first matching record at the top of the displayed list which makes much more sense when you think about it.

      Alpha Fives first selected record is displayed off the bottom of the displayed list and a whole list full of items which don't match the text you are after take precedence? Surely there must be something wrong, this can't be what Alpha intended - its not logical????

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Drop down list problem

        what about using a progressive lookup?
        Mike W
        __________________________
        "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Drop down list problem

          Hi Mike,

          Yes, I tried your example but it is more complicated than I really want. I have a working example of what I wish to do - which I am happy with except this problem with the positioning of the first result - off the bottom of the table???

          I was wondering if anyone else had a solution that solved this, the way I am using it, rather than coding a new solution.

          Could this be a bug? If so has anyone reported it?

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Drop down list problem

            Well this doesn't seem to be causing anyone else a problem, judging by the few responses, so perhaps it is time to try a different solution?

            Mike, I have looked at your example regarding progressive lookups above and I like the way it works, although I don't pretend that I understand the code you have produced... Would there be an easy way of incorporating your solution or something similar into my application?

            My app. is based on the Alphasports DB which came with Alpha Five ver 4/5 and my order screen which the problem is occuring on is a highly modified version of the Alphasports DB order screen. In the latest version of this database the orders screen can be accessed through the top button from the main menu. I think they call it "Invoices" the code would have to work on the field called description. Can you give me some ideas on how I would go about this?

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Drop down list problem

              My example in the above referenced thread has a button on the form having progressive lookup created with action scripting. You will have to study that and use that and make the appropriate changes to address your applications tables and field. That's about the best I can do without an example of your application in hand to demonstrate that for you.

              Sorry for the delayed response. I am on vacation.
              Mike W
              __________________________
              "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Drop down list problem

                Thanks for your help Mike, I was just wondering if I could seamlessly introduce this into the way I fill my form, but it seems not...

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Drop down list problem

                  I was just wondering if I could seamlessly introduce this into the way I fill my form, but it seems not...
                  Maybe you could use the embedded xdialog super control. I've not used it as I've only just upgraded to V9 but it might be worth a try.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Drop down list problem

                    Yes, I think maybe there is a way, but instead of pressing a push button to do this I want to do it when a column in my child table gets focus.

                    At the moment I select a field and a drop down list opens automatically - I think it uses field rules, as I type in the first few characters of the part number it starts to narrow down the items that match.

                    See this link for a short video example:

                    http://screencast.com/t/bD86wPj5w7L

                    Could the progressive lookup be setup to work like this?

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: Drop down list problem

                      Yes. position the dialog to open under the browse field using {position=x,y}, remove the caption with {nocaption}, remove the buttons, and have the browse close when the item is selected, which I know can be done, but I am not the best with a_dialog_button methods and syntax, so I would have to play with it, and grind out how to get that to happen. But it is doable.
                      Mike W
                      __________________________
                      "I rebel in at least small things to express to the world that I have not completely surrendered"

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: Drop down list problem

                        Mike, I am Still thinking about the repercussions of this!

                        At the moment I am using field rules to lookup and post values using these rules to update stock values based on the value selected in this field. If I use this progressive lookup method it looks like I will have to switch off the field rules? Am I right about this, or is there a way around this as I do not want to lose this functionality.

                        The field rules that I am using are virtually the same as those in the Alphasports database - Invoices form.
                        Last edited by Alastair; 06-29-2009, 07:39 AM. Reason: edited for readability

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: Drop down list problem

                          Alastair,

                          It might be worth contacting Alpha as it doesn't seem normal windows behaviour to have it at the bottom. This might be something they can solve relatively easily by having an option when setting up the lookup whether to show at the top or bottom. Not sure you would get it into V9 but there is a chance it might be added to V10.

                          Geoff

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: Drop down list problem

                            Hi Geoff,

                            Yes, that was what I was hoping/thinking when I started this post, I have looked at the properties of this field but cannot see anything that looks relevant, I was wondering if anyone else could suggest anything...

                            The only suggestion so far is this progressive lookup which looks like it will do the job, but only if it will work with the existing field rules as well?!

                            I must admit I don't think the way this works at the moment is at all logical, I did report it to Alpha but I haven't had a response so far, perhaps seeing as Version 10 is imminent Version 9 is not as important anymore???

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: Drop down list problem

                              How did you report it? I mostly send bug reports even though sometimes it is debatable whether something is a bug or just designed to behave differently than you would expect. Although it can be argued that the lookup was designed to behave this way I would ask them to clarify the reasoning since other windows applications do not work this way.


                              hmmm. Thought I would have a play with some other applications before I posted this reply. It seems that some work on the basis that if the search term can be seen on the current display (browse) it doesn't shift to the top but moves the selected record pointer to it. However if it cannot be seen then it does bring the search term to the top. Not sure how well I have explained that but hopefully you will get my drift.

                              So up until now I hadn't really looked at the lookups in my own db so I did. I found that Alpha5 is behaving as I would expect bringing my search term to the top and making it the selected record. The only time it doesn't seem to bring it to the top is if the browse is showing the last of the records. All in all it is operating how I would want it to with the data I have tested it with (customer list).

                              Comment

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