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Disappearing memo data

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    Disappearing memo data

    Hi all,

    I know that this has been a popular topic in the past, and maybe I should have added to an existing thread, but can anyone tell me whether the problem of storing memo field data has been resolved by anyone?

    My client has drawn to my attention that a memo field is not updating when the edit box is used (the "pencil"). This is embarrassing enough, but it now looks, from this forum, as if there is no way I can supply such a facility. I have tried viewing a table via the control panel (rather than via the form which my client is using) and editing the memo field. It doesn't work either! I can't believe I'm asking such a ridiculous question, but, is there any reliable way to enter data into a memo field?

    Thanks,

    Martin.

    #2
    RE: Disappearing memo data

    Adopt the principles outlined in

    Memos and Browses That Work

    found at www.learn alpha.com


    -- tom

    Comment


      #3
      RE: Disappearing memo data

      Thanks, Tom,

      Does this include solutions for the thread, "Data in memo field dissappearing"? which seems to describe my problems very exactly, and seems to have given many others a hard time, too? If so, I'll post a message there, as well.

      Many thanks as usual,

      Martin.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: Disappearing memo data

        I consider that article to be required reading for anyone designing an Alpha Five database which uses memo fields and will be shared by multiple users over a local area network. Depart from its recommendations at your own risk.

        -- tom

        Comment


          #5
          RE: Disappearing memo data

          The article enforces a degree of modal control which I try to build into forms, including the one I'm having problems with. It would seem that no-one should attempt to use memo fields who isn't prepared to use a lot of xbasic. (Not the impression that Alpha likes to give!)

          As it happens, I like the control xbasic gives, but I can't see anything in Peter's examples that isn't similar to my approach. I'll have to keep experimenting...

          Thanks for your time, Tom,

          Martin.

          Comment


            #6
            RE: Disappearing memo data

            I agree. However, if someone is building an application for someone else to use close familiarity with Xbasic is essential, especially with vers. 4 of Alpha Five. Later versions have richer assortments of Action Scripting commands and the non-professional developer can go MUCH further without hand coding things. I've always imagined the pitch to non-programmers was correctly aimed at the end user who is building something for him or her self. The developer who is being paid to build something for others falls in a different category. For him or her action scripting can carry them so far, but then they will have to master xbasic. My 2 cents, anyhow.

            -- tom

            Comment


              #7
              RE: Disappearing memo data

              This thread highlights at least two other ways this kind of thing can happen:

              http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/alphaphorum/read.php3?sortby=lastreply&direction=desc&num=4&id=71392&thread=71382#MSG71384

              I mention it here since it's not clear you have considered these possibilities.

              -- tom

              Comment


                #8
                RE: Disappearing memo data

                I absolutely agree, Tom, that xBasic is needed to ensure validation of (client) user input data, and other controls, but I can't even view a table (no forms) and save data to a memo field; I couldn't do it in a database to store my own CD details, or whatever. There was a strong (unproven) suggestion in the previously-mentioned thread that this was peculiar to XP, and I've only noticed this in XP; I'll have to try the same app. using 98...

                Watch this space.

                Martin.

                Comment


                  #9
                  RE: Disappearing memo data

                  As others have noted:

                  A5V4 in XP should be run in Windows 2000 compatibility mode.

                  In a networked setting the "Opportunistic locking" should be disabled on the server.

                  -- tom

                  Comment


                    #10
                    RE: Disappearing memo data

                    No, in my case the text is lost before there is any chance of saving anything!

                    Thanks, though.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      RE: Disappearing memo data

                      Martin,
                      I had a situation where, on one form, entering data in the memo field and then viewing it in the 'pencil' window, it would be lost when clicking on Save to close the window. However, if it had been saved before opening the window it would be retained after viewing it in the window whether Save or Cancel was used to close it. I found this was due to several scripts having being attached to the form with an instruction to set the same index OnInit, OnActivate, On Enter, On Fetch. I haven't deduced which combination of these caused the problem as I was only to glad to have removed it and didn't have time to analyse the matter further.

                      On another occasion, quite suddenly all memo fields in the application (about 20 of them) wouldn't save new data entered in the memo fields and also wouldn't permit existing data to be deleted. This was found to be due to a rogue file placed in the Windows start-up set of files by a commercial outfit. It took some time to track this down by a process of elimination but, having prevented it from starting up by removing the tick from the box in the msconfig utility, everything was restored to normal.

                      Regards,
                      Dennis Silver

                      Comment


                        #12
                        RE: Disappearing memo data

                        Many thanks for that Dennis. I don't think my problem can be anything to do with forms, indexes, etc. because I can create a single table with just one (memo) field, which, when viewed (i.e. not via a form or any scripts) and edited using the "pencil" (as opposed to simply typing directly into the field) refuses to save anything when the edit box save button is pressed.

                        Your "start-up" scenario looks far more likely to relate to my problem, though (in fact, there was a thread a couple of years ago where one XP machine did accept text and the other didn't, both running the same A5 version and app. I think).

                        I will have to spend some time using trial and error. As each test will probably involve re-booting and re-loading A5, this may take some time, so if anyone knows which software is likely to cause the problem, please let me know! I will, of course, post any relevent findings here.

                        Thanks, again, Dennis.

                        Martin.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          RE: Disappearing memo data

                          Martin,
                          In my case it was a file named 'gah95on6' belonging to an online sales organisation called 'shopathomeselect.com'.

                          It's probably a long shot that this could be at the root of your problem but worth a look.

                          Dennis

                          Comment

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