Browse Sorts "Disappear"

[ronwills]

In a database with a one-to-many link, I have a form with a browse table with child records. When attempting to sort on one of the fields in the child database (the field is visible in the browse form) the following problems occur:

If the field used to sort the child records is empty for one or more records in the child database, clicking on the "Sort Acending" button causes all records in the child database to disappear from the browse AND it places the user into entering new record mode.

This occurs on every database with one-to-many link to a child table. Primarily when sorting on fields in the child record that have been defined in the field rules as "lookup" fields.

Ron Wills
netHARNESS.com
[email protected]

[forskare]

RE: Browse Sorts

Ron,

I tried this on a form containing two browses and fields from the main table. I placed the cursor in a field that I knew would not always contain data and clicked Ascending. No problem. Also tried Descending with no problem. My browses are embedded. I created a set containing the Parent table, a child table and a grandchild table. Browses are created from the child and grandchild tables and placed on the form containing the fields from the parent table. It works great for me.

Hope this helps.

kenn

PS thanks for the F1 tip in your post on Access vs A5

[ronwills]

RE: Browse Sorts

I thought I might have to send a sample. I have attached a zip file which contains a database called "Sort Problems.adb" with dummy records. Make a temporary folder and copy all the files into the folder.

When you load the database the form "Employees Listed by Employer" automatically loads. Try the following in the browse:

Click on the "Year" field heading, then click on the sort ascending. Works Fine.

Click on the "Dep. ID" field heading, click on sort ascending, PROBLEM !
(you will have to use the "Close" button and then reload the form"

Next, Click on the "Source ID" field heading, click on sort ascending, PROBLEM !

"Source Full Name" field sorts correctly

I have had this problem with other databases in AlphaFive Ver 4.03.

Ron Wills
www.netHARNESS.com
[email protected]

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Browse Sorts

Ron, I think you have one or more field rules that are conflicting with each other.

I focused on the Source_Id field. Some of your records have values in this field. Others are blank in this field. When you sort the table on this field the blank fields will sort to the top of the list and the record pointer will move there, too, I believe. Some of your field rules seem to trigger various actions if certain fields are blank. For example, some of your lookups are triggered to conditionally popup if certain fields, like source_id, are blank.

Here are some clues which may help you unscramble things.

The Source_Id field sorts A..Z and Z..A just fine in the default browse for the Dates_Worked table.

The Source_Id field sorts A..Z and Z..A just fine in your form based on the Employers To Work History Sample Set, provided you disable the 'Auto Advance after field filled' rule for Source_Id.

I can't tell you why this works, because your field rules are too closely interconnected with one another for me to diagnose quickly.

Hope this helps.

-- tom

[ronwills]

RE: Browse Sorts

RE: Ron, I think you have one or more field rules that are conflicting with each other.

One clarification to my original posting:
I have found that the fields: Site ID, Full Name, Source ID and Dep ID sort Z->A. I just had not tried it out. However the problem occurs when they are sorted A->Z which was detailed in my first posting. Note: the Fields Q1, Q2, Q3 and Q4 are logical fields and do not sort correctly either A->Z or Z->A.

What I did based on your posting:
I selected the DEP_ID field which was one that would not sort correctly. I removed ALL field rules for that field. I went in and looked for fields referencing that field and removed the reference to that field. The Dep_ID field was cleaned of all rules or references from other fields. EXACTLY the same result: A->Z sorting causes all records to drop from the screen.

Based on the above and that when accessing the child table, "Dates_Worked," which sorts just fine in Browse mode on any of the fields even the Q1 through Q4 logical fields, I believe that the field rules are not likely causing the problem. Remember that the field rules are in effect in the child table as well as in the set. Its the same field rules.

Your response got me thinking, however, my best guess now is that it may be caused by the Set Structure (which is pretty simple - a single field linking the main database to the child) or Indexes as likely causing the problem.

Any other ideas would be welcomed!

Ron Wills
www.netHARNESS.com
[email protected]

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Browse Sorts

Ron, when the screen seems to clear and the 'records disappear' it's because Alpha Five has begun a new record and is waiting for data entry to continue. This is happening in your embedded browse, and involves the child table Hours Worked.

Your browse is not set 'read only', so whenever the cursor tabs through the last row a new record is started by Alpha Five automatically. My guess here is that Alpha Five steps through all the rows in the table when it does its A..Z or Z..A sort. This may be what's triggering the new record to start.

I changed the properties of the embedded browse to 'read only' and the sorts seem to work just fine. I think they're working in your case too, but the display is getting goofed up because of the new record that gets started.

I'm rethinking my earlier ideas about the field rules themselves. They may be fine.

Incidentially, I see that some of your table names have blank spaces in them. Many of us try hard to avoid using table names with blank spaces in them. There are are times when Alpha Five needs the exact name, including the blank space, and there are other times when Alpha Five substitutes a hard underscore for the blank space. The inconsistent treatment can cause problems if you're like me, unable to remember when which is which. -- tom