View the All Script in ONE PAGE

[jacklcs]

Hi

I have created a form with 5 button and few fields. I have entered the script for each of the button and the script when the user open the form.

I have copied this form to other table, I need to change one by one of the script, it takes time.

Is there any way to view all the script in one page?

In Access Program, I can view all the coding in one page and easy for me to maintenace it and change it.

Please advice. Many thanks.

[Finian Lennon]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

The simplest way to do this is to always create, save and name your scripts in the code editor.

If you save a script as "FormName_OnInit" (substituting the form name) then you can invoke the script by putting the form in design mode, events, on init and, in the code box call the script with
script_play("FormName_OnInit")
or whatever you have named the script. In the same way you can place script_play() commands on a button or any other location where code can be run. Script names should obviously reflect the location and function.

In this way you can have scripts open in the code editor and test code endlessly while making code changes without ever opening a form, browse or other layout in design mode.

In the case you ask about, the will have the same name in each form location after you copy the form. You can leave the script names the same and modify the code in each script to accommodate the different form location. One script could then run in many locations.

[DaveM]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

A little more advanced method would be using a goto in your coding for the script

as in: select
            case var->xxx = init then goto init
                 where init: would go to the code for init:
            case var->buttonx
                 where buttonx would go to the code marked buttonx:
end case

'your init would set the variable xxx to whatever you chose to make this code work and start the script
'your button would only set the var and start the script

Hope this helps you.

Dave

[jacklcs]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Hi Finian & Dave

Thanks you for your advice.

For save the record, it is better to write the script with Enter.begin() and Enter.end() and Change.being() and change.end with the field required or just use the code topparent.commit(). Which one is faster to save the record while many users are using the application software at the sametime?

If I use Enter.Begin() function, means I need to create 5 script for each of the form because it is required to stated the field name and the form control field in order the add or update the record.

Please advice.

[jacklcs]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Hi

I have 5 button on the form -> delete, edit, save, new and exit.

How do I write the script to know which button the user is click before I use the select...case?

Please advice. Many thanks.

[Steve Wood]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Unless you are doing something unusual, those functions (delete, edit, save, new and exit) require NO code at all. Just use Action Scripting and locate the appropriate action. There is no reason to use anything fancy such as enter_begin() and such. There is no need to individually identify the fields on the form (which you would have to do inside the enter_begin/end() function.

In fact, since these button functions you have are standard menu options, you can pick Pre-Defined Button from the Define Button dialog and find the appropriate menu option.

Again, unless you are doing something unusual.

[jacklcs]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Yes. The action script for the button is very useful. But when u copy the form to other table, I need to change one by one to take impact. That is take a lot of time.

Additional of that, I need to put in the control when the user want to perform some action. For example, field is required before save, check the database relationship before delete the record etc. These are the impt control required for database design. And sometime need to update different table (perform some calculation) when the user click save the record.

I have used the action script to do one form and copy the form to other table. I found that I need to go to every script to check to ensure there is no error and need to change the field name e.g. Focus an object with different field name. That takes a lot of time to do that.

I need to find more effective way to do the script.

[Steve Wood]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Well, I don't know the details of what you are doing, but -- its often true that -- none of the things you mentioned require any script, or form or table-specific code.

Normally (again, don't know if you are doing something unusual), required fields are handled at table level in Field Rules, relational integrity when deleting a record is handled in the Set structure, and you can use Field Rules to post values to other tables based on action, and most of the time when you have to post some calculation to another table, its because your database is not properly normalized; that is the calculated field on the other form should be derived dynamically from a relationship to the updated form.

Again, don't know your situation, but this might present some options. If you are coming from Access, it probably behaves differently. Alpha's Field Rules are simply awsome in what they can be used to accomplish.

The other suggestion in this conversation was to use the Code Editor. That means you create all of your script outside of the button, under Alpha's Code tab. Then your button is only told to run that script. If you have to write scripts that makes it easier to manage.

Personally, I would never tie two buttons to the same script, if those buttons performed materially different functions. That is, I might combine if two buttons did Print to Printer and Print to Email respectively. But not when they perform actions as diverse as the five buttons you have.

[DaveM]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Follow Steve's advice. Some things in programming is redundant and time consuming. They still have to be done.

Sometimes wish I could just wave a magic wand.

Dave

[Finian Lennon]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

As a general rule, it shouldn't be necessary to code this stuff in detail. You can do as Steve suggested and, generally, you'll be OK.

For example, due to persistent "unable to define lookup" errors we were forced to forego the use of field-rule-defined lookups in certain layouts. To resolve this problem I coded all the lookups from field events and buttons on one form and consolidated them in a single script.

If you have a script_play("Scriptname") on a button then you can use a construct such as

formname = topparent.name()
buttonname = this.name()

select
case formname = "patientinformation" and buttonname = "PatinfSaveButton"
'insert code here
case formname = "patientinformation" and buttonname = "PatinfNewRecordButton"
'insert code here
End select

to identify which object the code should address. Coding for field events requires declaring a shared variable in the event code (prior to running the script_play command. The following runs in the OnArrive event of a field called Com1_Name.

dim shared thisevent as c
thisevent=This.name()+"_OnArrive"
script_play("PatInfLookups")
thisevent=""
end

and the "PatinfLookups" code includes the following

dim shared thisevent as c
dim thiscom1 as c
select
case thisevent="Com1_Name_OnArrive"
'more code here
End select

I'm not advocating this a regular practice, but when you need it you need it.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Thanks, Finian. I always enjoy reading your code. Your style is "not too hot" and "not too cold", it's "just right". -- tom

[jacklcs22]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Hi Finian Lennon

Thanks for your advice. I managed to write the script to control the button on the form.

What about the Forms Events? Such as "CanExit", "OnInit", "OnExit"...

Your guidance is very appreciated. Many thanks.

Jack Lim

[Finian Lennon]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Hi Jack:

I identify the object and event in the code that runs the script_play. Like:

dim shared thisevent as c
 thisevent = This.name()+"_OnArrive"
  script_play("PatInfLookups")
   thisevent = ""
end

[martinwcole]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Finnian, out of curiosity, how are you letting them do lookups - xdialog? ui_get_list_array()? - custom form?

[Finian Lennon]

Re: View the All Script in ONE PAGE

Hi Martin:

I started replacing field rule lookups back in V4 so those are done with custom forms.

Anything more recent I've done with xdialogs.