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Set Focus on startup

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    Set Focus on startup

    Is it possible to set the focus to a button on an opening form without moving the mouse?

    Try this:
    Create a shortcut to the sample invoice application.
    Drag it to your desktop.
    Double click on it, and then move both hands to the keyboard, being careful not to move the mouse as the database is loading.

    Focus never moves to the opening form. You have to move the mouse.

    Am I missing something?

    I ask because I have a situation where I'd like the user to be able to start work without taking their hands off the keyboard. Is this possible?

    -- tom

    #2
    RE: Set Focus on startup

    Grasshopper,

    "objectname".activate()

    This gives focus to objects I selected on several forms in my database. They are then ready for data entry or "enter" key "pushes" a button. Is this what you desire?

    Stan
    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Set Focus on startup

      Tom,

      The short answer is yes. I have an autoexec script that opens a form. You can have the Oninit of the form or the autoexec move the focus to the desired object.

      However, I know others have had a problem with getting the form to have focus. Perhaps they were using an initial form selection rather than Autoexec. Nevertheless, I recall a discussion about trying to have something activate on start and a problem along those lines.

      Regards,

      Ira J. Perlow
      Computer Systems Design & Associates
      [email protected]
      Regards,

      Ira J. Perlow
      Computer Systems Design


      CSDA A5 Products
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      Comment


        #4
        RE: Set Focus on startup

        Placed in inline xbasic object in oninit event for startup form, n'est pas.
        There can be only one.

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Set Focus on startup

          Merci beaucoup, monsieur.


          However, the object.activate() does not fire until the user moves the mouse somewhere over the form itself. This behavior is limited to the startup sequence for the database itself.
          Heck, focus won't even move to the first object in the form's tab order... until you move the mouse. Again, this only happens from a cold start. Alpha Five off. Double click the database shortcut to start. Don't move the mouse, just watch...

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Set Focus on startup

            No dice. That's the technique I use to open the first form in my app, too. For a year and a half I've been moving my mouse as the form opens. Will your forms open and set focus to a desired button on the opening form from a cold start? i.e. with Alpha Five off, double click on the database shortcut... then don't move the mouse again.

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Set Focus on startup

              On further research, sys_send_keys("{esc}") will give focus to the form without moving the mouse.


              thanks. -- tom

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Set Focus on startup

                Wasn't looking at it that way. I'm so used to developing that I don't even keep shortcuts to the app. I just start Alpha and find the database I need.
                There can be only one.

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Set Focus on startup

                  A further note on sys_send_keys("{esc}"):

                  I had the same problem trying to give focus to a ui_get_password box. The solution was to put sys_send BEFORE the line that loads the password.

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Set Focus on startup

                    Hi Tom,

                    Echh! ickhh! spiiudt!

                    I personally abhor using SYS_SEND_KEYS (because they are key definition dependent that could change version-to-version and we have left key macros behind with DOS -- I wish!), I can tell you an example that works just fine.

                    In the OnInit event of the form, place


                    objectname.Activate()
                    objectname.Refresh()


                    I have tested this with an autoexec form, and with the form as a default load, and they both work.

                    Incidently, on Tabbed forms, I use different focuses dependent upon which tab is shown (I have sticky tabs that remember the last tab the user was on)

                    Regards,

                    Ira J. Perlow
                    Computer Systems Design & Associates
                    [email protected]
                    Regards,

                    Ira J. Perlow
                    Computer Systems Design


                    CSDA A5 Products
                    New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                    CSDA Barcode Functions

                    CSDA Code Utility
                    CSDA Screen Capture


                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Set Focus on startup

                      Ira, it's time to quit hedging. Get off that fence and tell us what you *really* think!

                      -- tom

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Set Focus on startup

                        One lesson I learned at the conference was "don't rile Ira."

                        When I played with this issue I accidentally discovered that it has operating-system-specific aspects. There is no problem in W95. In W98 esc (manually or via sys_send_keys) or moving the mouse was required to bring focus to the form. But the esc solution created another problem in W95: throwing the form into change mode.

                        I found this out because at the time I was carrying an application back and forth between home and work (95 at home and 98 at work). So I removed the sys_send_keys code and lived with the problem

                        Now that I have ME at home I don't know what the situation is there.

                        So Ira, have you moved your solution around among operating systems?

                        Regards to all,
                        Bill
                        Bill Hanigsberg

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Set Focus on startup

                          I have a log on form when the .abd fires. The only way to I can get focus onto the "name" field is to send_sys ESC. I tried Ira's thing for the Oninit, but still had to click on the form before typing. Guess I missed something.

                          :statusbar.hide()
                          logon.maximize()
                          logon.activate()
                          logon.refresh()

                          Comment


                            #14
                            RE: Set Focus on startup

                            Mick,

                            Just to be sure, I have 2 rules. Either use the complete object name or the minimal object name. (The minimal name is appropriate when Alpha forgets it changes windows objects (e.g. Browse to Form or vice-versa). If it works that way, then you can try other things. e.g

                            [b]
                            :formname:Buttonname.Activate()
                            :formname:Buttonname.Refresh()
                            [/i]

                            Note that I regularly use A5V4 build 230 on Windows 98 (1st edition), Windows 2000 and Windows ME.

                            Regards,

                            Ira J. Perlow
                            Computer Systems Design & Associates
                            [email protected]
                            Regards,

                            Ira J. Perlow
                            Computer Systems Design


                            CSDA A5 Products
                            New - Free CSDA DiagInfo - v1.39, 30 Apr 2013
                            CSDA Barcode Functions

                            CSDA Code Utility
                            CSDA Screen Capture


                            Comment


                              #15
                              RE: Set Focus on startup

                              Ira, I've tried activating and refreshing a button on my form, using a script in the OnActivate event for the form itself. If this form is opened with :form.view() from the autoexec script, Windows 98SE will never move its focus to the form, until I move the mouse. I feel a bit silly telling my customer that the first time they use my opening menu they have to move their mouse!


                              Similar behavior also occurs on the Invoice sample that ships with Alpha Five. Just create a shortcut to the adb. Double click on the adb and pour yourself a cup of java. Until you move the mouse Windows will not focus on the form, or its first object (in tab order). Move the mouse, even a fraction of an inch, and the form accepts focus.


                              -- tom

                              Comment

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