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A question of automation?

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    A question of automation?

    I consider myself to be an end user who has created several databases within Alpha (4 & 5) using the excellent front end that Alpha offers. However the true limitations in my knowledge are now surfacing!

    I have a sports dbf which includes a table called "fixtures" which contains details of all games that are scheduled. I have a report attached to that table which generates a confirmation form that is sent out to the relevant team confirming its schedule for the season. The report uses a variable placed on a form to select the year in question and then 2 ASK variables requesting the code number for the team in question. It then filters for matches for that year and for where the teamcode matches the home team code and away team code. The resulting games are then sorted into date order.

    This works fine except for the fact that it is labour intensive (or should that be "labor"!!) as each report for each team has to be manually created.

    I am trying to figure out how to automate this so that I can print out each report for each team from one button click? My knowledge of xbasic is limited (but improving!)

    Any help would be gratefully received.

    Regards

    Glen Schild
    Glen Schild



    My Blog


    #2
    RE: A question of automation?

    Glen:
    If your database isn't to large or maybe copy you application and just put in a few records.
    Zip up your files and post them on the board and some one could help you.
    One report grouped by team and page break on team might work.
    Charlie Crimmel

    Comment


      #3
      RE: A question of automation?

      Charlie:

      Have made a copy of the dbf and stripped most out of it. Changed the boot form to the one that is relavent and coloured the button magenta that fires up the confirmation form. You are asked to enter the team code twice. Use 41 for the example and you will see a preview of the form.

      Hope this makes sense!

      Regards

      Glen
      Glen Schild



      My Blog

      Comment


        #4
        RE: A question of automation?

        Glen,
        I assume that you have a single record for each scheduled game with a home team and an away team and you want to print a batch report for the schedule for all or many teams at the same time and can't.

        This might work:
        Create a dupe of the "fixtures" table. This will be a temporary report printing table. Add a field on the new table called "teamsort". At printing time zap the table and do two appends into the table. On the first append populate the "teamsort" field with the home team. On the second append populate the the "teamsort" field with the away team. Now you can print a batch report, grouped by "teamsort" in date order. The zap and appends will be on a single button followed by the report commands.

        Good luck

        John

        Comment


          #5
          RE: A question of automation?

          Glen, John's idea works fine. Here's a working example.


          Unzip the attachment in a separate folder, do not mix it with your development materials.


          The temp table is called ForFixtConfirms.Dbf


          The button on the form runs three operations:
          1) zaps the temp table
          2) appends the home team schedules, HomeCode values stored also in new TeamCode field
          3) appends the away team schedules, AwayCode values stored also in new TeamCode field


          The report is basically the same as you designed except:

          1) inserted group break based on 'TeamCode'

          2) revised 3 calculated fields to eliminate the ask_ vars and substitute comparisons based on new TeamCode values...


          Let me know if you have any questions.


          -- tom

          Comment


            #6
            RE: A question of automation?

            Guys:

            As always thanks for the prompt and helpful responses. Am about to download the examples and "Play"!!!

            Regards

            Glen
            Glen Schild



            My Blog

            Comment


              #7
              RE: A question of automation?

              Glen, did you get it working ok?

              Comment


                #8
                RE: A question of automation?

                Tom:

                Yes thanks to the help of all, I know can produce all forms or just one selected from a very elegant list (thanks Charlie) all from just one button.

                As ever the learning process continues thanks to the great help that everyone provides. I know of no other software product that has this type and level of support. Long may it continue!

                Regards

                Glen
                Glen Schild



                My Blog

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: A question of automation?

                  Oops forgot to finish the previous note!

                  Tom and John, I have to say that the concept of creating another table just for producing one report had not even crossed my mind!( even further proof that I am an end user!)But having now seen it and used it I have immediately thought of so many other situations in the applications that I use to take the databases up to the "next level".

                  Thanks guys!
                  Glen Schild



                  My Blog

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: A question of automation?

                    I'm glad you got it going.


                    The use of intermediate or temporary tables for a report is useful in at least two general situations:


                    1) where you need values from multiple tables which cannot be easily related using a set; and


                    2) where you need to 'split' individual records so that field values from the same record can appear in different groups in the same report. This was your case with the Fixtures table. Each record contained information on a 'game'. This included information on the 'home' team, and information on the 'away' team. Your report needed to group the schedule information based on the team 'identifier' whether it fell in the 'home' field or the 'away' field.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: A question of automation?

                      A lesson well learnt!

                      Regards

                      Glen
                      Glen Schild



                      My Blog

                      Comment

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