Automatic Advance using a Set Form

[Jean McWatters]

After creating a Set using the 1:Many Format and modifying the Default Form to accommodate the Parent and 13 Child Files, I began testing the data entry.

The Parent File includes the Participant Information, and each Child File is a specific subtest of a Memory Test that we are standardizing. The linking field for each file is the ID# of the Participant.

During data entry, the cursor will advance from field to field within a Participant and Child File, but will not automatically advance from one File to the next, nor will the Set Form advance to a blank form once the data has been entered for a Set Form. This means that the cursor manually has to be placed at the beginning of each child file at the completion of the previous file entry, and that at the completion of the set entry the form has to be closed and reopened in order to enter the next Set Form data.

Is there better way to handle data entry for a set? I am not able to use the autoincrement feature for ID# as it is an assigned number by the administrator.

[forskare]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Jean,

By 'file' I presume you mean 'record' as each client name in your database is referred to as a record. There are a couple of things you can do.

1. Place a button on the form to create a new record. Also add a button to cancel the entry and you migh want a button to save the entry.
2. When you get to the end of the tab order, you can place a bit of code on the field's CanDepart or OnDepart event which will cause a new record to open. (You can steel the code from the code on the new record button) You migh also want the Cancel button to cancel and entery if necesary.

Others may have more ideas but start simple, use the 3 buttons as that makes things clear and easy for the user.

kenn

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Jean, your basic design may prove troublesome. I try to avoid sets with more than 3 members, though there are exceptions. Are all your child tables linked one to many, back to the primary table?

You might benefit from reading Dr. Wayne's article, 'Simplifying your Application', at www.learn alpha.com.

-- tom

[Jean McWatters]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Yes, all the Child Files are linked back to the Parent File using the ID as a link.

Thank you for recommending the suggested article. I will check it out.

[Jean McWatters]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

I was under the impression that each Record entered on a SET Form was the combination of the Participant file and all of the child files which are linked by ID#. Is this inaccurate?

I will attempt to apply buttons as you suggest. I'll let you know how it works out.

Thanks so much for your suggestions.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Jean,

The terminology is tricky but here's what I understand is at work when you use a form based on a set.

The tables that comprise the set are opened automatically when the form opens. A 'composite' record is created in the record-buffer which contains the values from the fields in the current record in the primary (parent) table, and the values from the current record in each linked child table. However, edits are saved to each table separately. It's possible, for example, to use sucha form and save a new parent table record without simultaneously creating a new (and blank) child table record in each of your child tables. Likewise, it's possible to add child table records to a single child table, without creating new records in the parent or in the other children.

-- tom

[Steve Dentler]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

After creating a Set using the 1:Many Format and modifying the Default Form to accommodate the Parent and 13 Child Files, I began testing the data entry.

The Parent File includes the Participant Information, and each Child File is a specific subtest of a Memory Test that we are standardizing. The linking field for each file is the ID# of the Participant
-----------------------------------------------

I would think that anyone who could navigate this form, and know which subtest they're current viewing........would have a memory exceeding a pachyderm.

[Jean McWatters]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

You are absolutely right. I have been doing some trial and error entry to see just what happens when I enter a set. It seems to me that other than giving the data entry person the ability to have all forms on one screen, there really isn't any benefit to entering the data on a set form. (Although, this is a pretty big benefit when you are talking about consolidating 14 forms onto one screen.)

I have experimented with adding buttons to forms, but I don't see how this helps me with a Set Form as only the Parent Form is displayed in "Form Mode" and all the child forms and fields are displayed in "Browse Mode". It doesn't appear that buttons appear in a "Browse" setting. Is this correct? What I am attempting to do is to force the data entry sequence to go from the last field on one child form to the first field on the next child form until all the "children" are complete and then progress to the next "Parent" and its associated "Children."

Any suggestions?

[Jean McWatters]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Actually, it's not the navigation that is the problem. Each field is labeled with the subset that it represents, so there is little problem with knowing what subset you are in. The problem lies in getting the Set Form to be user friendly.

[Jay Talbott]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Hi,

>>What I am attempting to do is to force the data entry sequence to go from the last field on one child form to the first field on the next child form until all the "children" are complete and then progress to the next "Parent" and its associated "Children."

It seems to me that if you have one to many relationships that what you want is difficult, because you may want to create more child records, so how would the form "know" when to create a new parent record?

Regards,

Jay Talbott

[Steve Dentler]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Perhaps you could use a single browse (or a single sub-form) for all the child records which would contain a field identifying the sub-test. A button on the form could query the next sub-test for the participant to begin entering data. If this sounds too complicated, you may find help with your form here on the board.

[forskare]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Jean,

Here's what I've done. Others do it similar or differently.

I have a set with a 1:Many table and 5 1:1 tables. The form is based on the set. On the form I have a few fields from the parent table and then put a tabbed object on the form. Each tab represents a table. On some of the tabs, I have a browse based on a child table but not the child table as it's linked to the set, just on the child table alone. I also have a subform on one of the tabs that's also built on a child table alone. This works very well for me and it may be something you would like to try.

However, I beleive there's a difference in 'overhead' when 4-5 child tables on a 1:1, are opened at the same time (as in a set) vs the same number of open child tables on a 1:Many relationship. I wouldn't do that.

There's so much flexibility in A5 that you could have a browse on your form and whe you double click on a record or a person's name, it takes you to another set or to a table which is not part of the set and enter/edit data, which as I think about it, may well be a better method than what I've got setup. (Whatcha don't think of when trying to help someone.) Anyhow, if this method is utilized, variables are used to pass values from the parent form to the unrelated table

Gotta admit that this type of power in A5 is mind boggling compared to what I have to do when using Access since Access doesn't have anywhere's near this flexibility w/o extensivly learning VB.

No doubt, there are some who will disagree with this, all or in part. But, this database will not have tens of thousands of records either. Hope this gives you some ideas.

kenn

[Edward F. Schulz]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

HI Jean,

I use a composite form with the parent at the top and an embedded
browse at the bottom of the child table. In the onkey event for the form I have the following script:

if a_user.key.value = "{F3}"
a_user.key.handled=.t.
IF a_user.key.event = "down"
f=parentform.active()
if f="browse1"
parentform:numstore.activate()
parentform.fetch_next()
else
Browse1.Activate()
browse1.new_record()
' browse1:firs_nam.activate()
sys_send_keys("{Enter}{enter}{enter}{enter}")
browse1:percent.activate()
end if
end if
end if

When the form is initiated, the focus is on the parentso pressing F3
places the focus on the first field of a blank record to add to
existing child records for that parent record. When i have entered all
necessary data in the child record, pressinf F3 advances to the next
parent record and the focus again is on the first blank record of the
child table. Consequently the previous data entered into the child
is saved. BTW, you can delete the sys_send_keys line. You will also have to modify the field names to suit your application.

efs

[CALocklin]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

Jean,

There are a lot of good suggestions here for making things "more perfecter" but, assuming you are using browse tables for the child tables, maybe this is all you will need...

Try the F6 key. This will move you from "region" to "region" (I think the term is a carryover from A4) which seems to mean the same as "browse" to "browse". This isn't perfect but it's better than switching from the keyboard to the mouse and back again.

I've used this method a number of times but can't remember the details. I know it will move you out of the current browse to the next form object in tab order - which could be another browse, or a button, or a field in the parent form. I'm just not sure if you can move into a region from the parent form this way - but that may not be important because I think you can move to the first browse just by setting the tab order.

[martinwcole]

RE: Automatic Advance using a Set Form

I would use this approach - when the user enters a new parent, the client, and reaches the last item in the tab order for the parent - you could put this code at the candepart event for that field -

response=ui_msg_box("Ready for the first child? ",4)
if response=6 'answered yes
parentform.commit()
form.view("child1form")
end
end if

'this would take you to the first logical child form

'then at the onactivate event for the form itself
'when they conme back from the first child

'put something like this:

check:
tbl=table.get("childonename") 'if they didn't enter from before

if tbl.custid=parentform:custid.value
'do nothing - they have one record for the 1st child
else
response=ui_msg_box("Ready for the first child? ",4)
if response=6 'answered yes
form.view("child1form")
end 'stop the script from running here
end if

tbl=table.get("child2name")
if child2.custid=parentform:custid.value
'do nothing
else
response=ui_msg_box("Ready for the 2nd child? ",4)
if response=6 'answered yes
form.view("child2form")
end 'stop the script from running here
end if
ad infinitum

you will have to play with this, but it should give you the core of my idea - every time you activate the form, it would systematically check each child for a record - and if there was none, ask if you want to enter one.