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new Alpha 5 user

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    new Alpha 5 user

    Hi -- I'm evaluating Alpha 5. My only database experience has been Symantic's flat file data base manager Q&A which I used happily for years because it was very easy for a non-pro like me to set up the simple functions I need.

    I know these are very, very beginning questions but I was hoping some of you would be able to give me a push in the right direction.

    I've been able to convert my data to a master table, no problem. And I've been able to define my fields to some extent. But I'm having trouble with a few things that I did easily in Q&A. Specifially I want to (I'm using Q&A jargon, here, and I don't know where to look in A5 for the same types of functions):

    1. I want to develop a "Custom Help" screen for one of my fields which will remind the user what each code means before they enter it.

    2. I want one of my fields to be searchable by "keyword."

    3. I restricted a field to a date field but I actually I only want the month and the day -- how do I do that.

    4. How do I restrict the state field to only accept 2 capitalized letters.

    I'd appreciate any help. I've been reading the message board archive and it has really been useful in getting me started. Thanks for any help provided.

    #2
    RE: new Alpha 5 user

    You may mean the beta version of Alpha 5 V5 or you may mean Alpha 5 v4.5 and the answers could differ. For V4.5

    1. I want to develop a "Custom Help" screen for one of my fields which will remind the user what each code means before they enter it.
    You could either have a custom screen form appear, driven from the canenter event of the field in question, or you could define a lookup

    2. I want one of my fields to be searchable by "keyword."
    You need to define an index on the field and set the index to be active, then searches are keyword based on the field.

    4. How do I restrict the state field to only accept 2 capitalized letters.
    Look at the options for transformation while editing the structure of your table, uppercase transformation is one of the choices
    3. I restricted a field to a date field but I actually I only want the month and the day -- how do I do that.
    The month and the day is not a date. If you want only that, define the field as character. If you want only the month and day displayed, check the field formatting options or define a calculated field for display

    There can be only one.

    Comment


      #3
      RE: new Alpha 5 user

      Well let me put my 2 cents in. I was for some time a Q&A Consultant. That good old flat file database! I must tell you that you have selected the correct software. It is so much more powerfull than Q&A and I cant tell you how much. I believe you are talking about the @msgbox command. Alpha 5v5 will have a rollover type effect with each field. That version will be rolling out any day now. You being an ex Q&A user will appreciate the new version even more. Basically you can design a database with virtually no code if you want. The only problem I have had is learning the power of a relational database. I have learned to auditrail info when needed pretty much as Q&A did. Good luck! Also, this board and the people on here are fabulous.

      Comment


        #4
        RE: new Alpha 5 user

        Just to give you another view point... (Besides, I'm lazy - building on someone else's ideas is easier than starting my own.)

        1. I want to develop a "Custom Help" screen for one of my fields which will remind the user what each code means before they enter it.
        Another option is to set the Field Description in the field rules. On the first tab of the field rules, called Field Types, you are given the chance to define the "default descriptive name" which will be the default label text or column text that Alpha will use for forms or browses AND you can set the "Field Description" which will appear at the left end of the status bar whenever the cursor is in that field. Of course, the status bar must be active for the user to see it. To check the "status of the status bar" click the "View" option on the menu to see if Status Bar is checked.

        This isn't the same as pop up help but, once the user is aware of it, it can be pretty handy.

        2. I want one of my fields to be searchable by "keyword."
        The index mentioned by Stan is the easiest way to get to the first occurrence of the keyword IF "keyword" refers to the text in the field or at least the first part of the text in that field.

        There are a number of other options as well. This is fortunate for those who need the other options and unfortunate for those trying to learn all the intricacies of A5. The other main options are building a query, using Query by Form, and using Find by Form.

        If you could give us a better idea of exactly what a keyword search did in your other database, we could give you a better idea of which A5 option is most similar. Or, perhaps better yet, if you study those A5 options in the documentation you may find that one of them is more appropriate and you will certainly understand how to apply them better for future situations.

        3. I restricted a field to a date field but I actually I only want the month and the day -- how do I do that.
        Sorry, can't provide much help beyond Stan's comments here. The issue with a character field is that there is no automatic checking to make sure a valid "date" has been entered. This could be done with an Xbasic routine but that may not be something you want to jump into right now. (I haven't had a lot of need for a date entry like this myself but it seems like a feature that would be nice.)

        4. How do I restrict the state field to only accept 2 capitalized letters.
        You don't have to restrict the data entry to capitalized letters. In the field rules you can go to the Transformations tab and set the transformation rule to "Upper" and any text entered will be converted to upper case as soon as the user leaves the field. This is a lot easier on the user than forcing them to type using upper case to start with. You might also want to create a lookup table of States vs. Abbreviations for those who can't remember if AL is for Alaska or Alabama. (Hint: Alaska is AK.)

        I assume you know that the 2 letter limit is defined by the structure of that particular field.

        And, by the way, welcome to the community!

        Comment


          #5
          RE: new Alpha 5 user

          Thank you for all the help I received from former Q&Aers on this board. My db is up and running! The kind assistance I got was what convinced me that the software was for me and I purchased my license last night. This board is fabulous!

          Comment


            #6
            RE: new Alpha 5 user


            Leslie,

            Come back often. It won't be long before you'll be helping others! (That's one of the secrets of this forum. Having received a helping hand, folks here are quick to offer similar assistance to others.)

            Comment


              #7
              RE: new Alpha 5 user

              Leslie:

              Plagerizm is my forte'
              Let me explain....

              As a new guy myself and often embarassed to ask a dumb question, I've regularly been visiting this board and stealing snippets of code and technique. I have all of this in a single Word.Doc searchable with the resident 'find' utility. It has been a great getting all of this help from these experienced, intuitive, and knowlegable guys.

              Welcome to the community.

              Ken

              Comment


                #8
                RE: new Alpha 5 user

                Hey Ken,

                Based upon some of the back-n-forth that I've seen in the A4 message boards, I thought I'd never see you in here. What gives?

                Instead of using a word doc, make an A5 table to contain the code snippets & technique you're plagerizing from here.

                Mike
                Thank you,
                Mike Konoff

                Comment

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