Auto Populate from Two Tables

[kyosadls]

I have created a form that utilizes a lookup from the table's Field Rules. In this instance the fields (Last, First, FirmCode) are populated by a lookup on the FirmCode pulled from a table called Lwynames. This performs very well.

I have another table called Lwyfirms that include the FirmCode and Firm name, address, phone, and fax information for that particular firm, and have created fields for each of these fields.

Right now, the only way I can get the Firm Name, etc. to populate automatically is to have another lookup assigned to the Firm Name field, creating redundancy on the data entry side. Ideally, once the FirmCode field is populated it would automatically pull from the Lwyfirms table and populate the Firm name, address, phone and fax information.

To reiterate, the form contains:

1. Table LwyNames fields: AttyLast, AttyFirst, FirmCode
In the form there is a lookup on AttyLast that populates all three fields. (Attorney Name info)

2. Table LwyFirms Fields: FirmCode, FirmName, Address, Phone, Fax, Email
On the (same) form there is a lookup on FirmName that populates the Law Firm info.

I wish to use the FirmCode (populated when AttyLast is chosen) to populate all the Law Firm information as well as the Attorney Name information.

Picture attached. In it, the Attorney Name fields are populated and the pop up is the secondary lookup I have assigned to the FirmName field.

While this will work just fine, I'd like to streamline the process if possible. Any ideas would be greatly appreciated!

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

The real question is why are you duplicating this information? why not create a set of these two tables linked by firmcode 1:1 and have the information presented instead of duplicated? But if you must, place this on the Firmname field OnArrive event.

dim vFC as C
vFC = topparent:firmcode.value

dim t as p
t = table.open("lwyfirms")
query.filter ="firmcode = "+quote(vFC)
query.order=""
query.option="t"
xi=t.query_create()
	topparent:firmname.value = t.firmname
	topparent:Address.value = t.address
	topparent:phone.value = t.phone
	topparent:fax.value = t.fax
	topparent:email.value = t.email
xi.drop()
t.close()

topparent.commit()

[kyosadls]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Hi Mike, thanks for the input. I actually did create a set with the two tables but was unsure how to go from there. You mentioned "have the information presented instead of duplicated?" What do you mean?

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

The form will present the address on the form and the info is always available when needed using the coding similar to what I gave you. See attached example.

[kyosadls]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

I'll try both methods. Unfortunately, for some weird reason, when I copied the database to bring home (its still in the testing stage) it didn't bring the lwyfirms and lwynames tables with it. I'll have to go back in the office later this week to test it. Thanks a million!

[kyosadls]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Hi Mike, I was able to set up the code you sent and edited it to match actual field names. However, I keep getting a script error and I can't figure it out. I've attached a picture of the error and the actual database.

I tried the method of "presenting" that we talked about, but the client would prefer if I could get this way to work.

As always, thank you thank you!

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Hi Mike, I was able to set up the code you sent and edited it to match actual field names. However, I keep getting a script error and I can't figure it out. I've attached a picture of the error and the actual database.

Not quite. That code that is causing the error is trying to capture the value in the field named 'name'. Based on your image, the form Defendantonly is based on the table defendants, which does not have a field 'name'. And none of the others will work either. "topparent" is the parent table of the form. The field name that followestopparent: must be the field name in the defendants table for this form.

[kyosadls]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Got it! I renamed the fields in the lwyfirms to match those in the defendantonly table and created a set, then duplicated the form to that set and it works great. I discovered that if I put the code into the FlyOver Event the user doesn't even need to click the field to populate it, which was necessary for the OnArrive Event but I kept it for both Events.

Mike, has there ever been any talk about setting up a knowledgebase for AlphaFive like that for Experts-Exchange? I tried to find information on this issue here, but I had a hard time finding what I'm looking for and I have to assume that its because its a free service. Don't get me wrong, I'm grateful for it, but would be willing to pay a monthly fee. I very rarely need to submit a question on EE, because I typically can find the solution myself - but then again, system troubleshooting is a much different beast than database programming and I'm not such a novice in that arena. Just a thought.

As always, thanks for the guidance and support.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Diana,
Yes there has been significant talk about such a collection. A little while back it took the course of considering establishing a Wiki-like collection so hat the MB folks could contribute. The problem arises as to who maintains it. Alpha maintains this board. There is another place that you might not know about that has helpful answers - learn alpha.com. That is a collection of how-to's that has a fair amount of resource value.

Glad you got it to work.

[john linley]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

A similar populate problem?...

I would like to post or have automatically entered a value in a table field "bank_code".
At present, on entering this field a lookup of twelve values 'pops-up' and the user chooses one of the twelve values. The values in the lookup are......... "CH01 through "Ch12"
"CH01" represents January and "CH12" represents December.

The two tables are 'bank list' and 'purchases_payments'.

During the course of data entry, in purchases_payments, four fields require data entry. The four fields are 'check nbr'... 'check date'...'check amount'... and 'bank code'.

If the 'check date' field receives the value {08/11/2009}, would it be possible, in lieu of the lookup, to automatically put the value "CH08" in the 'bank code' field .or. if the check date is {09/22/2009} put in "CH09"?
etc,

Secondly, if this is possible, it must not be an unchangeable calc field!!

Reason, It is occasionally necessary to change a bank code value.

One example, if a bank code is CH08, it may need to be changed to CH09
if an August check clears the bank in September.

Hope someone responds, and this is possible. Thanks in advance,

John Linley

[jaryder]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

John,

You can code the ondepart event for the check date field to fill the bank code field if it is currently blank with the value you want.

[jaryder]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

John,

Try this code on the ondepart event for the date field.

You need to change the following object names to the names of your objects: bankcode and checkdate

if topparent:bankcode.value=" " then
	topparent:bankcode.value = "CK" + padl(ltrim(str(month(topparent:checkdate.value))),2,"0")
end if

[john linley]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

Jeff..

Will give this a try this evening. I am reading this code as...
if bank code = nothing
then put in the value ck + first two digits of the check date.

I am used to always using a left parenthisis after an if in an alpha4 conditional expression. I will assume your code is correct and it is not required.

These A5 expressions are quite new to me. On occasion, if I write an A4 expresion
in A5, it works, but sometimes, perhaps more often than not, it doesn't.

Anyway, I appreciate your help and will get back to you and let you know how it is working.

Regards and thanks, John Linley

[Stan Mathews]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

As a one line expression uisng if() it would be

topparent:bankcode.value = if(topparent:bankcode.value=" ","CK" + padl(ltrim(str(month(topparent:checkdate.value))),2,"0"),topparent:bankcode.value)

Jeff gave you a three line code snippet using if..then...else.

[jaryder]

Re: Auto Populate from Two Tables

John,

Yes the code should work as stated as it was tested on a sample form. You are correct in the understanding of the code. I can post the sample program for you to look at if you have any issues.