Cannnot create lookup ???

[Phil Cook]

I have an inventory listing where the Item_Id field is a lookup field. When entering successive records, after a few have been entered, I get the following message: "Cannot create lookup. Lookup definition incomplete or invalid. Not an open index." So then I click on OK, the curser returns to the field then I click on the arrow and up pops the lookup table, most of the time but not always. It works then doesn't, then does then doesn't. What is going on and how do I fix this?

Thanks in advance, Phil

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

This is a bug that was fixed a while ago, then creeped back in (although much less frequently) in ver. 4.5.

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Oh yeah, closing and reopening the form, often, but not always, fixes the problem.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Peter, I don't recall earlier discussion of this. Can you post an example that illustrates the problem?

-- tom

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

It's random Tom. It happens to me occasionally these days. For a while it was gone. Previously, it happened regularly where I probably could have posted an example.
Peter

[John Gamble]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Phil
I can only confirm I have the same problem and so far the only solution is to exit & re-enter. As you indicated, problem is sporadic with no identifable clues as to the cause. In my case it crops up while entering records in an embeded browse. Sometimes it clears itself after a few tries, but in most cases requires exit & re-enter. A real pain in the touche.
John

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

"embedded browse" - that's where it occurs for me also.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Peter, it may be illusive, but it's probably not 'random'. (Unless you have faulty hardware with a poor connection somewhere that's sometimes on and sometimes off.) My guess is that it's something to do with field rules. Or possibly the user is not allowing the system enough time to save changes, before beginning new changes on another record. A working sample which illustrates the problem is needed for Alpha Software to fix it, or for others of us to suggest workarounds.

-- tom

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Phil, can you post a working sample that illustrates the problem?

-- tom

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Tom,
It is random in the sense that it when it happens I cannot discern a pattern as to what triggers it. You may very well be right that it may have to do with a certain combination of events. But, that does not mean that it is not a bug. Please remember that Alpha acknowleded this as a bug in a previous version and they did fix it, although I don't remember which patch. In 4.5 it has come back, although much less frequently.
Peter

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Come to think of it. I recently changed my M.O. Now I do a dialog of the child table. The problem still occurs (occassionally) in the table dialog lookup.

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Peter, I suggest you try to trigger the error, keeping careful watch on what keystrokes and mouseclicks you are using. Perhaps this will require entering successive records rapidly one after the other. If it occurs, make a careful note of the context in which it happened. Then post the database here with a text file explaining how to trigger the error.

If you prefer, how about describing the setup, so we can build our own test kits?

Describe the set, the links, the lookup field rule ( in detail ).

I'm not disputing your recollection of the earlier thread, when a bug was acknowledged... I just don't remember it. Can you point me to it?

-- tom

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Tom,
Read my post below. The problem still surfaces in a small table level dialog. In this particular case, I am the only one using this particular set. I am not a rapid data enterer(?). The dialog filters a blank record created via xbasic or it is an edit of an existing record. So before when I was entering data in the child browse the problem occurred occasionally there (in a one to many set, one child only), but now, it still occurs (occasionally) in the table level dialog. I can't take you to a specific post with regard to past discussions of the lookup problem, but there were a number of them. I just don't remember exactly where & when. If I get a chance I'll see if it is in the read me notes for one of the patches. I apologize for not posting the set and lookup. It would take me some time to extract it from the app.
Peter

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Peter if I build a test kit that looks like this will it match the essential features that you think are involved...

Plan A:

Two table set. Child table linked one to many on simple one field key.

Data entry to the embedded browse for the child table.

Child table has a field which uses a table lookup field rule to retrieve key values from a third table.

Data entry to the lookup table (table number 3) is not occurring elsewhere on the network while child table records are being edited.

Expected outcome: When entering or changing successive child table records, the lookup to the third table will eventually fail, returning a 'cannot be created ' error message.



Plan B:

Instead of using the embedded browse to enter or change child table records, the form has a button or OnRowDbleClick event script which calls a dialog form. The dialog form is based on the child table only, and is used to enter a single new record, or to edit a single existing record. Otherwise, it's the same as the other scenario.


Ok?

-- tom

[Peter.Greulich]

RE: Cannnot create lookup ???

Tom,

Plan A & B correct, except >>Data entry to the lookup table (table number 3) is not occurring elsewhere on the network while child table records are being edited