How do I reference already open tables X-Basic

[Richard Andro]

I have an application which tracks potential clients. When they respond to a letter I enter the contact which creates a record in a child table. I am having quite a time getting the X-Basic code I am writing to do some very basic things. I have created a button which when pressed should do the following things:

1) Put todays date in replied.date field
2) put my initials in replied.agree_ini field
3) put a letter type in a char called replied.letter_type
4) put the account number which links this record to the parent file (nov18.dbf) in acct field.

What happens is the replied.date and replied.agree_ini fields get populated; however, the letter_type and acct fields do not. Using other techniques I have been able to populate the acct field only to have the child record not come up with the parent record (I think the index didn't get updated).

Here is the code.

tables:REPLIED.enter_begin(HONOR_FIELD_RULES)
tables:replied.acct = tables:nov18.acct
field173.activate()
tables:REPLIED.date = Date()
field239.activate()
tables:replied.agree_ini=upper(var->initials)
dropdown1.activate()
tables:replied.letter_type = "Hex Only"
field177.activate()
if tables:nov18.oldest>01/01/1880}.and.tables:nov18.oldest

[CALocklin]

RE: How do I reference already open tables X-Basic

Richard,

I'm not familiar with your syntax at all (assuming "tables:" is not your form name) but it obviously works - at least enough to get you a partially functional script. I always like to learn new tricks so where did you find reference to this sytax? (I think I remember seeing something like it but I can't find it now.)

Also, I don't understand why you should need the two '.activate' commands. I suspect this may be causing your problem.

If you want to put data directly in the current form, you can use syntax like the following which is in the Help file under Xbasic Methods for Working with Forms and Browses / .New_record:

:parentform:items.new_record()
:parentform:items.part_no.value = "P100"
:parentform:items.qty.value = 3
:parentform:items.commit()

where "items" is the table name and "part_no" and "qty" are object names on the form. Note the distinction between object name and field name - they might have the same and they might not but they are definitely not the same thing. The easiest way to tell is to use the Xbasic Explorer in the script window.

If you want to access the table directly, use the Table.get( "" ) command. I sometimes use this method for changes in the current record but usually it would be in an OnWrite or CanWrite event. Be careful, it is less direct and you have to watch when you can Refresh vs Resynch. Don't use Resynch until you are done with all changes/entries. Here's the syntax using this method to get the same results as above:

itbl = table.get( "items" )
itbl.enter_begin()
itbl.part_no = "P100"
itbl.items = 3
itbl.enter_end()

NOTE: The script you presented as well as both of 'mine' are starting and ending the "Enter" mode. If you are already entering/changing the record manually, these scripts should give you an error message. You should make sure that the button will not work if that table is already in either the Change or Enter mode.

[Richard Andro]

RE: How do I reference already open tables X-Basic

Thanks for the input. I have changed my code and it appears to work, except that it appears to not update the index for the child record and the next time I pull up the parent record the child record does not come up. Any ideas?

field173.value = date()
field239.value=upper(var->initials)
if (field240.value>{01/01/1880}.and.field240.value{01/01/1880}.and.field78.value{01/01/1880}.and.field79.value

[Stephen Williams]

RE: How do I reference already open tables X-Basic

Do you get the right data in the child table? It can be a bear getting A5 to update the child table and show the data just entered without closing and re-opening the form.

But first we need to know the data actually got into the table...

[Richard Andro]

RE: How do I reference already open tables X-Basic

Yes the data did get into the table. I viewed it looking directly into the table from the table/sets tab.

However, the problem appears to have gone away. I have no idea why. It probably happens when I do an exact set of steps that I am no longer doing. But anyways, thank you for your help. - richard andro