Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

[Coyndigger]

Hi to all,

I am also new to Alpha5 v4; I have been using Alpha4 v6; but have
finally thrown in the towel and moving up.

I am trying to get a handle on all the different options and Murphy
proof user options before getting too far into changeover:

I need help with disabling the Alt-Space option that allows the
dialog box to pop up and also with redirecting the space key to only
work as a space key, rather than also going back to the previous form.

Thanks

Paul

[Finian Lennon]

RE: Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

I suppose you could play around with the OnKey event to try to capture the Alt-Spacebar.

It seems to me that the "Exit" option is the only one of the Alt-Spacebar options that you would really want to stop from happening. (You do allow the user to minimize and restore, I assume.) That being the case you can prevent the "X" (from the system menu) or "Close" (from Alt-Spacebar) from shutting the form by putting a Cancel() in the CanExit event of the form. You can remove the system menu by changing the options under Form/Properties/Window. This forces the user to close the form with a button of your own design.

I can't get my spacebar to do any more than enter a space in my forms so I'm not sure about that one.

Finian

[Coyndigger]

RE: Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

Hi Finian,

Thanks for your response; The On Key to disable the Alt-Space command
is what I'm trying to come up with. I have been able to control the
other keys that way, but not having luck with Alt-Space. I am trying
to build a foundation form to keep the users with minimum chances for
confusion and then work backwards to give different users what they
need depending on what they will be doing in their job function. Once
I get the foundation form under control, then I want to copy & modify
to simplify for future designs.

As far as the space key changing to different forms; This seems to
be a weird function and may be a creation from something else I have
done. I tried removing my onkey scripts with the same action. I have
only set up a menu form and two data entry forms from the menu. When
I push the Space Key in non-enter mode, it takes me to the previous
form.

Thanks
Paul

[Finian Lennon]

RE: Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

It would be a lot simpler to simply "Cancel()" any attempt to close the form other than from your close button.

If you make sure to activate an object on your form when the form starts you may be able to avoid the other problem.

Finian

[Coyndigger]

RE: Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

Hi Finian & others with comments,

I have solved my Alt-Space dilema with the following On Key;

if a_user.key.value = "{% }"
a_user.key.handled=.t.
end if


My second problem can be partly solved by the following;

if this.mode_get()="VIEW" then
if a_user.key.event="down" then
if upper(a_user.key.value)=" " then
a_user.key.handled=.t.
end if
end if
end if


I was hoping for better results; the space key no longer jumps to the previous
form when pushed in "View" which is great, but when in "Change" the space key
only works after some other character has been used in a field. It works fine
in "Enter" mode.

I think your option of giving focus to something else on form call may be another
solution, but I am not sure how to do it.

Thanks

Regards,
Paul

[Finian Lennon]

RE: Need direction with Alt-Space & Space Key

"I think your option of giving focus to something else on form call may be another solution, but I am not sure how to do it."

Suppose the first field on your form is the ID field and the field object name (Object/Properties/Name) is also ID; then in the OnInit event for the form put these two lines

this:id.activate()
this:is.refresh()

This assures that the cursor will be flashing in the id box when the form starts.

In general, this should be unnecessary. If the Tab order for the form is set up so that a field object is the first object in the tab order then that will be activated automatically. (Check under Arrange/Set Tab Order) However, if a button or other object is first, you might get this thing with the spacebar.

Finian