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Uniqueness Test

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    Uniqueness Test

    I am developing a scheduler for my database which contains the following fields (Among others):

    Appt_Date
    Appt_Start_Time
    Category

    Appt_Date = Date Field
    Appt_Start_Time = ShortTime Field
    Category = Text field that contains the type of appt it is (ie. Photoshoot, Sales Session, etc.)

    I also have a calculated field called Short_Appt2 that combines Appt_Date and Appt_Start_Time into one field that looks like: 04/16/2011 @ 11:00am

    I want the database to check as soon as the calculated field is populated, for uniqueness. That way I cannot double book an appointment within the same Category.

    I can have appointments on the same date and time as long as they are in DIFFERENT categories.

    Hope I was clear with all this.

    Thank you so much (in advance for any advice).

    #2
    Re: Uniqueness Test

    Checkout the validation tab in field rules. And this page in the help
    Tim Kiebert
    Eagle Creek Citrus
    A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked just fine.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: Uniqueness Test

      The uniqueness function does not seem to work with time or calc fields.

      I created an index call Full_Appt with this expression:

      ALLTRIM(CATEGORY)+" on "+(APPT_DATE)+" @ "+(APPT_START_TIME) - which results with, for example, Photoshoot on 04/16/2011 @ 7:00pm

      Here is the code I used in RecordEvents:

      CanSaveRecord

      tbl = table.current()
      if key_exist("Full_Appt", ALLTRIM(CATEGORY)+" on "+(Appt_Date)+" @ "+(Appt_Start_Time)) then
      cancel()
      ui_msg_box("Error", "The Appt Time is already taken")
      end if

      I get the following error:

      Variable "Appt_Start_Time" not found.

      Any Ideas??
      Last edited by pcman_chris; 04-17-2011, 01:00 AM.

      Comment


        #4
        Re: Uniqueness Test

        As per the help page the field names in the record event code need to be qualified with the table pointer.
        uses the same expression as the index as its second argument, with the exception that each field name is prefaced by " tbl. ".
        Code:
        tbl = table.current()
        if key_exist("Full_Appt", ALLTRIM([B]tbl.[/B]CATEGORY)+" on "+([B]tbl.[/B]Appt_Date)+" @ "+([B]tbl.[/B]Appt_Start_Time)) then
        cancel()
        ui_msg_box("Error", "The Appt Time is already taken")
        end if
        As an aside: Alpha starts evaluating expressions from the right to the left. That is why the error message referred to Appt_Start_Time and not CATEGORY. This can be confusing because one may think 'well the first two fields worked, what is wrong with the last one.'
        Tim Kiebert
        Eagle Creek Citrus
        A complex system that does not work is invariably found to have evolved from a simpler system that worked just fine.

        Comment


          #5
          Re: Uniqueness Test

          You may want to proceed with care with this because my memory is that key_exist() is a problem when you modify some other field of a record as the record key then does already exist! But do not despair as there are other ways to tackle this problem.

          Comment


            #6
            Re: Uniqueness Test

            Thanks so much! It still gets an error:

            Property not found, tbl.Appt_Start_Time Subelement not found

            BUT it seems to work! It will not let me save if the same time slot is already filled.

            Comment


              #7
              Re: Uniqueness Test

              Gary, How else could I do this?

              Comment


                #8
                Re: Uniqueness Test

                Originally posted by Garry Flanigan View Post
                You may want to proceed with care with this because my memory is that key_exist() is a problem when you modify some other field of a record as the record key then does already exist! But do not despair as there are other ways to tackle this problem.
                You are right. It works well when creating the record, but If I need to change/update that same record I get the pop-up!! Man that sucks.

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: Uniqueness Test

                  Another illustration that to our dismay Alpha will do what we tell it to do, instead of what we want it to do.

                  Have you check the help file documentation on the function you're using (Key_exist) ?

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: Uniqueness Test

                    Hi Tim,
                    That's interesting - I have never been able to get a pointer to work defined that way in field rule events. I thought it was necessary to use this format:

                    tablename->fieldname.

                    I'm going to try it...

                    Originally posted by Tim Kiebert View Post
                    As per the help page the field names in the record event code need to be qualified with the table pointer.
                    Code:
                    tbl = table.current()
                    if key_exist("Full_Appt", ALLTRIM([B]tbl.[/B]CATEGORY)+" on "+([B]tbl.[/B]Appt_Date)+" @ "+([B]tbl.[/B]Appt_Start_Time)) then
                    cancel()
                    ui_msg_box("Error", "The Appt Time is already taken")
                    end if
                    As an aside: Alpha starts evaluating expressions from the right to the left. That is why the error message referred to Appt_Start_Time and not CATEGORY. This can be confusing because one may think 'well the first two fields worked, what is wrong with the last one.'
                    Robin

                    Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                    Comment

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