Is the form in data entry mode?

[Beltronics]

You "experts' have always been there for me. Once more?
I have an action button on a form. I want to set a condition on the button so that it does not do anything if the form is in data entry mode. If nothing has been entered or if it has not been saved, it is in what I consider data entry (enter a new record) mode. Is there a way to precondition the action script from executing if the form has not been saved or is in data entry mode with nothing entered? I imagine there is no way for the progam to tell if something has been entered and not saved yet? So, I would see if the form was still in data entry mode and then display a dialogue box instructing the operator to either press the escape key to get out of data entry or save the from and try clicking the button again.

So, I need to "test" the form to see if it is in "view" mode and not in "data entry" mode before the action script attached to the button is executed.

[Allen Klimeck]

Re: Is the form in data entry mode?

<object>.mode_get()

Aj

[Beltronics]

Re: Is the form in data entry mode?

Hi Aj
Thanks but, you will need to be more simple in your reply as it means very little to me. I'm 67 and certainly not a programmer so you will have to structure your answer accordingly. Sorry to be such a pain??

[Allen Klimeck]

Re: Is the form in data entry mode?

From Alpha help file

Syntax

Character Mode_Name = <OBJECT>.MODE_GET()

Description

The <OBJECT>.MODE_GET() method applies to:

Browses (for <OBJECT> use either the <BROWSE> pointer or the name of the browse)

Forms (for <OBJECT> use either the <FORM> pointer or the name of the form)

The <OBJECT>.MODE_GET() method returns the current mode of the layout. Possible modes are:
"VIEW" = 0
"CHANGE" = 1
"ENTER" = 2
"QUERY" = 3
"FIND" = 4

Example

This script is attached to a button on a layout. It saves the current record if the layout is in change or enter mode. If the layout is in Query or Find mode, it exits to View mode.

Mode = parent.mode_get()
select
case mode = "CHANGE" .or. mode = "ENTER"
parent.commit()
case mode = "QUERY"
parent.query_exit()
case mode = "FIND"
parent.find_exit()
end select

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: Is the form in data entry mode?

Jim, getting a fix on the right terminology will help you understand how forms work.

The phrase "data entry mode" in Alpha Five is usually meant to refer to whether the form "permits" data entry to occur. There are two data entry modes: "Modal" and "Modeless". On the default form for your table the "form" menu has a choice called "Allow Edits", which is toggled on and off with F3 or a mouse click. Check the help file topic "Using a Form" in the User Guide. There's a nice section there that describes "data entry mode" in the context of a user's form. A bit of review there will pay dividends for you.

Assuming the form's "data entry mode" is "allow changes", then you still need a way to determine whether any "unsaved" edits are pending. This is done by checking the "mode" of the form. The three most common "modes" are "View", "Change" and "Enter". To see how to detect the current "mode" do this:

define a new calc display field in your form layout with the following expression:

curr_mode = parentform.mode_get()

Then drop the new calc display field into your layout and adjust the field display width to 10 characters wide. Watch the field as you enter a new record. Watch what happens when you save the record. When you change it. When you cancel changes. When you save changes. You're using a form method to detect the current "mode" of the form. Pretty neat, huh?

[Beltronics]

Re: Is the form in data entry mode?

Thanks Tom and Aj. Let me play with this and see what I come up with. What I am doing here is this.
To rent a storage unit, the customer MUST be in the customer table. When the operator attempts to rent a unit and discovers the customer in NEW and not in the Customer table, they click on a button to open the Customer form in NEW entry mode so they can enter a new customer. If all goes well, they enter a new customer, save the record and then click on this "button" to close the form and return to the "rental" form where they came from. This works fine. I just want to prevent them from returning to the rental form if they didn't enter a new customer or save the record. I don't want to have the "button" SAVE the form if they haven't entered anything as this would save a blank record.

OK, let me try to implement your suggestions and follow your instructions.