Key Seach - No Find Condition

[Robert Dollar]

In the "Find by Key" function that is inherent in the Alpha 5 toolbar, if the entered value does not exist, the "Find Window" remains just as entered (entered value returned and no apparent change in the window). This makes it difficult for some users to realize that the entry they have made does not exist in the current indexed table.

I would like to have a pop-up message display stating "Key Value entered does not exists..Please re-enter" whenever the Find by Key Function is used by Alpha 5 and the entered "Key" value does not exist in the table.

My environment is Alpha 5 - Version 4.5 - Build 266. Any ideas on how to accomplish this?

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Key Seach - No Find Condition

Sure, just build your own find by key functionality. It's easier than you might think.

In the OnPush event for the button

1) open another instance of the table
2) set the primary index for the find by key
3) get the value from the user
4) fetch the record
5) if no found, the fetch_find() function returns
a negative number, test for it
6) if negative pop up a msg box for the user
7) otherwise close the new instance
8) do the fetch_find in the current form



-- tom

[Robert Dollar]

RE: Key Seach - No Find Condition

Thanks - I am just getting the hang of how Alpha is modified via the code editor. I have extensive experience in structured coding of what I need to do, but I am still at the bottom of the learning curve on Alpha's syntax and object pool.

For example - Get the value from the user - I would normally use a memory variable to transfer user input. I'm not sure how Alpha does this. Is there a "Variable-to-Get" or similar global variable that you use.

In any event, I appreciate your help and I'm certain that if I follow your roadmap, I can accomplish what I need to do.

Does the Web site have any code example submitted by the Alpha Community for doing these kind of things. Just curious.

Again - Thanks. Will try to stay in touch via the Alpha message board.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Key Seach - No Find Condition

Robert,

There are tons of examples in the Code Archive forum, and also in the collection of useful Articles at www.learn alpha.com. Dr. Wayne's book 'Xbasic For Everyone' was a big help to me, too.

Check the Xbasic Reference Manual. You'll find all that you need there.

What's sometimes confusing is that Xbasic contains statements that let you get, modify and set properties of objects in your form (I think of this as working at the surface layer). And, also statements that let you get, modify, and set values in the underlying tables or sets. ( I think of this as working behind or beneath the GUI ).

For example, let's assume you have a form called Form1 and on that form is a field object displaying the Lastname field from your Members table. Assume further that the field object's name is simply Field5.

Here are two ways to get the contents of the Lastname field and store it in a variable called CurrentLastName

1) this approach uses the field objects in the form

dim CurrentLastName as C
CurrentLastName = :Form1:Field5.value 'notice colons


2) this approach talks directly with the underlying table

dim CurrentLastName as C
tbl = table.current() 'get pointer to the primary table
CurrentLastName = tbl.LastName


The chapter on Object References will be a big help to you. It's also in the Xbasic Reference Manual.

Hope this helps get you going.

-- tom