Blank value in drop-down

[Kelly Waters]

I need help in a big way! Here's what we're trying to do ... we are trying to use A5v5 to create a membership directory on CD, so that we don't have to print books. The directory needs to be searchable by several different fields. We created a form with drop down lists for what they can search by. The choices in the lists are pulled from the database.

The problem is, that if someone does a search, say for state AL, they select AL from the list and maybe something in another field as well and do their search, no problem. Then they want to broaden their search because maybe they didn't find what they were looking for within that state. They can delete the value, but it still searches by that value until you either select a different value or enter a space into the field.

We are NOT going to be able to get the thousands of people that will be given this CD to put a space in each time they want to clear a value.

We've tried entering a blank record, to create a blank value, but that didn't work. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!

Thanks!
Kelly Waters

[forskare]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

Hi Kelly,

Whoa! One thing at a time. Let's start with the dropdown that you say doesn't work. Can you give us some details?

kenn

[Kelly Waters]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

I'm sorry I wasn't more clear. It's not that the drop down doesn't work necessarily, it's that it retains a value even after you hit the delete key to remove it.

In order to fix that we were attempting to put in a blank value choice, but can't figure out how to get that.

Kelly

[Kelly Waters]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

Now I'm going to change the question, because we can get a blank choice in the list now. The problem of DELETE not removing the value still remains though. The user would have to actually hit the space bar to change the value.

Kelly

[forskare]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

Kelly,

We cannot help you if you don't give us some details about what you did. How did you create the dropdown?

kenn

[Kelly Waters]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

create a drop down on a blank form any form
populate the choices with a few choices

create another control a textbox, anything

both these controls can link to a variable, does not matter.

Run the form.

Select an item in the drop down.

now click on the text box

NOW we want to "clear" the drop down, as in have NULL in it!

So go to the drop down and hit the DELETE key on your keyboard

The value displayed disappears.

"but its still there, you just cannot see it"

Click on the text box, now click back on the dropdown
the item you deleted is still there!

I can create a choice that is space, or all, and the user could select that, but the problem is, they will NOT they will simply hit DELETE, and when the box has nothing in it, they will think its clear.

Hope this makes more sense?

[forskare]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

Kelly,

Sorry, but I really don't understand what you're doing and why you're doing it. When you say, >>create a drop down on a blank form any form populate the choices with a few choices>create another control a textbox, anything

[Kelly Waters]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

This has become way to confusing

The simple problem is the drob down combo boxes do not accept delete.

What I was trying get you to do is create a drop down box on a form, any form, any variable, does not matter. Just make a drop down box, and have 3-4 choices for it!

You need another control on the form. Does NOT matter what the control is or what it does. We simply need it so we can click on it, to take the focus from the drop down, that is all.

One you have a form with a drop down list box.
Run the form, click on the drop down and select an entry.

Now the value of the drop down is what you selected.

Click out of the drop down and then back to it.

NOW you want to CLEAR the drop down box, make it empty
NOThing in it.

YOU can hit "delete" and all the text is gone.

Now click on another control to take the focus from the drop down. The drop down looks empty! Anyoneone would think its empty as there is NOTHING in it.

BUT in fact it is NOT, if you click back into the drop down
the last entry is still there!!!!!!! the box is NOT empty.


This is a problem with the drop down list box.
The only way we can find to clear the box, is to run the clear active script on it.

But users do not understand this.
They see nothing in the box and think its empty.


Last night, I made a sloppy fix,
In the on exit event, I programed a form refresh.
so if the use deletes the text then exits the dropdown box
the entry will reapear

I then put a small button next to the dropdown. this button is set to clear the drop down box.

so if a user wants to clear a drop down, they need to click the clear button.

This works but is not optimal. Optimally, if all the text in a dropdown is deleted, then the box should be empty!!

Hope this makes it more clear

[forskare]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

I am unable to try what you're asking at this time since I'm not at my computer (Alpha's not on this computer). Perhaps someone else might be able to understand your request and give it a try.

kenn

[Kelly Waters]

RE: Blank value in drop-down

That's ok. We'll stick with the 'clear' buttons. Thanks for trying though!

Regards,
Kelly

[John Hertzler]

RE: Blank value in drop-down








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I'm not sure how you are presenting the data but you might want to check the
following: http://downloads.alphasoftware.com/samples/prompt_multiple_values.doc,
http://www.imakenews.com/alphasoftware/e_article000108642.cfm.
Both describe how Action Scripting can be used to create multilist boxes, that
can be used to select a combination of criteria on reports, letters ect. By
using this approach with a report, I think that it would solve your problem.