Changing date to last modification of record

[John Wilking]

I am a non programer, but have been using Alpha 4 for the past 10-12 years.

We recently upgraded to Alpha V5.5 for our database.

One of the features we used in the DOS version was to update a date field whenever a record what changed.

How do we do this in the Windows version?

Thanks for any input.

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

John,

There are a couple ways to achieve this. The easiest is to create a calculated field and a calculated expression that evaluates to todays date.

1. Highlight the table on the control panel that you are working with.
2. Right click on the table name and select Edit Field Rules
3. Scroll through the field names until you get the field where you want to save the date
4. On the field types tab, select Calculated.
5. In the field expression box enter date()
6. Save the field rules.

Now everytime you edit the record, the date will change to the current date.

Jerry

[Edward F. Schulz]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

Doesn't that update the field every time he goes into that form even
when he does not make a change or addition? Sometimes he may just want
to view the data.

efs

[Peter.Wayne]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

no, it only updates the field when the record is edited. a calculated field in a table is different from a calculated field on a form.

[Bob Hansen]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

I just did a test to check out that difference. And I found that is correct, but has a flaw. If you change your mind and cancel the value in the field or press escape on the record, the date will still be there. That calculated value is triggered on any data entry in any field with the first keystroke, doesn't even wait to exit the field.

Is there a condition that can be trapped that triggers only if the record is actually updated?

[Sandy Garrett]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

How about the table's field rules, event, OnSaveRecord? Fieldname=date()

[JerryBrightbill]

RE: Changing date to last modification of record

Sandy

If you use the OnSave event the table must be reopened to save. If you use the CanSaveRecord event for the table, not the field, you can use something like this:

tbl = table.current(1)

tbl.date_edit = date()
if tbl.mode_get() = 2
tbl.date_enter = date()
end if

This is a cut and paste from a table I use where I save both the initial entry date (date_enter) and the last edit date (date_edit). The only time the date actually changes is when the record is saved. The other method is simpler, but this is more flexible.

Jerry

[gregincolumbus]

Re: Changing date to last modification of record

Has there been any improvement in this functionality since this post? I am looking for a record modification field that only saves the the date upon record save. I would also like a similar feature for modification time. A single time stamp field would also work.

I am coming from a Filemaker background were this is pretty simple functionality. I am new to Alpha, so I am probably just missing something simple!

Thanks!
Greg

[Doug Page]

Re: Changing date to last modification of record

Has there been any improvement in this functionality since this post?

Frankly, I can't see how it could be much simpler than this and still offer the ultimate in flexibility. In any modern OS today, you really need to understand events and how important they are to any programming language. So if you think about the fact that you want to do something when you save a record (like record a date and time) then you need to look for a record saving event and put the appropriate code/Action Script there. What Jerry showed in the post just above this is very simple and quick to do. Follow it through and try to do it. If you have any problems, then post back.

Edit: Greg, I think after rereading your post that perhaps you are thinking in FileMaker terms and need to learn the Alpha methods. This seems to be a very common problem with new users and I know was a big problem for me until I finally worked my way through the Getting Started doc and kept reading the posts on this forum.

[gregincolumbus]

Re: Changing date to last modification of record

Doug,

Thank you for the prompt response. You are correct that I am thinking in Filemaker terms. I have used FMP for about 15 years, so it is definitely a shift in my design approach. I am excited about learning Alpha (mostly for web app development). I just have lots of old habits to break!

I am just starting to work through the documents for Alpha and this was something I was curious about learning early. Since the posting was from 2002, I was curious if there had been and additional features added over the past 7 years.

Thanks again
Greg