script recorder

[Schulzie]

Hi Guys,

Tell me what I am doing wrong. From a new button on a form
I opened the script recorder and then switched to operation
and ran a pretested operation (which copies selected files to a new table named test). Next I switched to "tables & sets" and renamed the test.dbf to 1999.dbf. Next I ended
the script recorder. Now when I go to the button on the
form in the design mode, I right click on the button,
select "action" and it is blank.

Thank you all in advance,
Ed

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

So alright already, I am learning. I found the script in
the script recorder window. After copying it into actions
of the magic button. It still doesn't perform the task.
Now what?
Ed

[Stan Mathews]

RE: script recorder

Ed,

I just posted an answer (I hope) to a similar question about an append operation.

A operation recorded as a low level script has certain "presumptions". For one thing, you are attaching an operation to a table or set. Alpha thus knows which table to use and the recorded script usually begins with:

a_tbl= table.current().

This must be altered to run correctly as a "standalone". You will have to tell Alpha which table to use.

A_tbl = table.open("yourtablenameinquotes")

substituted for the original line should do the trick.

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Thanks Stan, I'll try it right after dinner.

Ed

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

I get an error when it runs, so i converted it to xbasic and it looks like this:

DIM ax_choice as C
DIM ax_response as N
DIM ax_dialog as P


ON ERROR GOTO ax_error_trap
DIM ax_error_trap_desc as C
DIM ax_error_trap_offset as C
DIM ax_error_trap_msg as C
DIM ax_error_trap_response as N

ax_error_trap_desc = "Action Script"
ax_error_trap_offset = "0"
ax_error_trap_desc = "Run Script old_year"
ax_error_trap_offset = "1"
script_play("old_year")

END
ax_error_trap:
ax_error_trap_msg = "Trapped error in action command: [" + ax_error_trap_offset + "] " + chr(13) + chr(13) + "Command: " + ax_error_trap_desc + chr(13) + "Error: " + error_text_get()
ax_error_trap_response = ui_msg_box("Action Program Error", ax_error_trap_msg, 2)
IF ax_error_trap_response = 4 THEN ''Retry
RESUME 0
ELSEIF ax_error_trap_response = 5 THEN ''Ignore
RESUME NEXT
ELSE ''Abort
END
END IF
''****
''**** End

[Stan Mathews]

RE: script recorder

That's the high-level xbasic. Just a lot of error trapping and the one operative line is:

script_play("old_year").

You'll have to show us the code from the script "old_year" which you should find under the code tab.

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Hopefully the attached is the script to copy records from
one data base to a new one and then rename the new one to
the appropriate year.

a_tbl = table.current()
query.order = "LASTNAME+FIRS_NAM+MIDINIT"
query.filter = "CYEAR(VAR->ASKD_SAVE_WHICH_YEAR_)=SUBSTR(DATEPAID,7,4)"
query.options = "I"
a_tbl.query_create()
copy.set = ""
copy.db = "c:program filesa5v4uniontest.dbf"
copy.dd = .F.
copy.delete_o_dd = .F.
copy.records = .T.
copy.fields = 10
copy.field1 = "Lastname"
copy.field2 = "Datepaid"
copy.field3 = "Duespaid"
copy.field4 = "Assesspaid"
copy.field5 = "Percent"
copy.field6 = "Trade"
copy.field7 = "Dues"
copy.field8 = "Firs_Nam"
copy.field9 = "Midinit"
copy.field10 = "Dept_Num"
a_tbl.copy()
a_tbl = table.open( "c:program filesa5v4uniontest.dbf" , FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE )
a_tbl.rename( "1999" )
a_tbl.close()

when the script is run from a button, it gives an
"arguement is incorrect data" message.

BTW, datepaid is a character field.

[Stan Mathews]

RE: script recorder

Please refer to my first reply. As a saved operation, designed and attached to a specific table, this would perform as desired. As a script the:

a_tbl = table.current()

can cause problems. If the script is attached to the onpush of a button on a form for a table which is not the table you intend the operation to affect, then the script could fail at several points.

Change this line to:

a_tbl = table.open("putyourtablenamehere") and all should be well.

Stan

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Stan I had posted the old version of, I already have changed that first line to the proper path and dues.dbf. I also changed the next to the last line to read ....
a_tbl.rename(cyear(date())-1)
Thanks for your interest,
ED

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Now it says .... a_tbl.query_create() ..not found.
Should I change line 4 to read query.options=""

Ed

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Stan with the first line changed to C:program filesa5v4uniondues.dbf the message box for the ask variable does not come up, that's probably why a_tbl.query_create() cannot be found. I changed it back to a-tbl=table.current(), now the message box comes up for the date, but I get .... Error: incorrect data type. hrmphhhh

Ed

[Stan Mathews]

RE: script recorder

The only thing I see is that the order of evaluation of the askd_ might cause problems.

I think I would have said:

"SUBSTR(DATEPAID,7,4)=CYEAR(VAR->ASKD_SAVE_WHICH_YEAR_)"
or
"right(DATEPAID,4)=CYEAR(VAR->ASKD_SAVE_WHICH_YEAR_)"

You might also try taking care of the askd_ "before" using it in the filter ala:

a_tbl = table.open("tablename")
myyear = CYEAR(VAR->ASKD_SAVE_WHICH_YEAR_)
query.order = "LASTNAME+FIRS_NAM+MIDINIT"
query.filter = "SUBSTR(DATEPAID,7,4)=myyear"
query.options = "I"


Hope this helps.

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

Ok Guys, I got this working with one minor problem:

a_tbl = table.open("1999_1.dbf") 'opens table to work on
myyear = (var->askc_save which_year_) 'sets variable to users entry (char)
query.order = "lastname+firs_nam+midinit" 'sets ordering
query.filter = "substr(datepaid,7,4) = myyear" 'accepts only a match between field and users entry
query.options = "I" 'no idea
a_tbl.query_create() 'creates the query to match the filter
copy.set = "" 'no idea
copy.db = "c:program filesa5v4uniontest.dbf" 'sets name for result dbf
copy.dd = .F. 'do not copy dictionary
copy.delete_o_dd = .F. 'no idea
copy.records = .T. 'copy according to the following info
copy.fields = 10 'number of fields to copy
copy.field1 = "Lastname" 'copy designated field to new dbf
copy.field2 = "Datepaid" ' "
copy.field3 = "Duespaid" ' "
copy.field4 = "Assesspaid" '"
copy.field5 = "Percent" ' "
copy.field6 = "Trade" ' "
copy.field7 = "Dues" ' "
copy.field8 = "Firs_Nam" ' "
copy.field9 = "Midinit" ' "
copy.field10 = "Dept_Num" ' "
a_tbl.copy() ' complete the copy
a_tbl.close() ' close the table
a_tbl = table.open( "c:program filesa5v4uniontest.dbf" , FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE ) ' reopen the table
a_tbl.rename(myyear) ' rename the table to users entry in the message box
a_tbl.close() 'close the table

After I run the script it is necessary to go into the
control panel, select "tables/sets" , right click in the white area, select "1999" (which was entered in the ask variable, and click OK.

Is there something that could be added to the script that would do this automatically?

Thanks again,
Ed

BTW, in trying to learn what is going on in basic, I have
tried to annotate the script, would like you to comment on it.

[Stan Mathews]

RE: script recorder

The command you want is

file_add_to_db("c:\The path\to your\1999.dbf")

I don't find this in the online documentation so it must be in the update readme.

You commenting is fine, if extreme. But then extreme, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder. If it works for you, and helps you remember later what you have done, go with it.

[Schulzie]

RE: script recorder

That makes me feel real good, Stan. If it is not documented, how did you find it?

Thanks again,
ED