Need to return to same form after query returns 0 recs

[Wanda Tucker]

I have a couple forms that are populated with OnPush event buttons - no fields. These buttons run their search and display the resulting records in a data entry form called Sites.

When the results of any given search return 0 records, I get the message that no records were found. When I click OK in this message box, focus is given to the Control Panel. I want the focus to re-open the form where the search buttons reside, instead. How do I accomplish this?

Thank you,
Wanda

[Mike Wilson]

learn a5_get_records_in_query()

Wanda,

I recommend strongly that you learn the a5_get_records_in_query() function. It has been of great use to me. It returns the number of records in the query. I use this as a condition in a Action Script Branch event alot to direct the Action in the event records are not found and not wanting the user to have to deal with the message window.

Mike W.

[Mike Wilson]

An example

W,

I found an example for you (attached).

Mike W

[Wanda Tucker]

Uhm, okay. I would love to - but I need a clue as to where it would go. I don't know code very well at all and get 99% of the results I need from using Action Scripting.

That said, with your hint, it is greek to me as to why the function you mention would return to a specific menu when no specific menu is even mentioned in your code. How in the heck does that work? How does it know which menu to go back to?

Also, maybe you could point out where your code should go. Here is the code as converted from action scripting.
Thank you,
Wanda
'Close Quick Screen
DIM mode as c
mode = parentform.mode_get()
'If the form is in Enter or Change mode, first save the changes before closing the form
if mode = "ENTER" .or. mode = "CHANGE" then
parentform.commit()
'Check to see if the record was successfully saved
if parentform.mode_get()<>"VIEW" then
ui_msg_box("Unable to save your changes","Please correct and save, or discard your changes", UI_STOP_SYMBOL)
end
end if
end if
'Close the form
parentform.close(.f.)

'Opens sites and runs saved query on Equate
query.filter = "trim(Sites->Equake)=\"Y\""
query.order = ""


'Open the layout_type showing just the records that satisfy the filter
DIM Shared varP_Sites as P
DIM layout_name as c
layout_name = "Sites"


dim tempP as p
'Get pointer to existing window. In case layout_name is qualified with a dictionary name, extract up to first @. In case formname has spaces, normalize it
tempP=obj(":"+object_name_normalize(word(layout_name,1,"@")))
'Test if pointer is valid
if is_object(tempP) then
'Test if pointer refers to a form or browse
if tempP.class() = "form" .or. tempP.class() = "browse" then
'Apply the query to the form or browse as the Base query. (this means that
'the user cannot turn the query off, only add to the query)
tempP.BaseQueryRun(query.filter,query.order)
'then activate the already open window
tempP.activate()
else
'Window is not already open, so open it
varP_Sites = :Form.viewqueried(layout_name,query.filter, query.order )

end if
else
varP_Sites = :Form.viewqueried(layout_name,query.filter, query.order )

end if

[Wanda Tucker]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the example. I see how it works for your situation, I think. If you did not create your own message that says it DID or DID NOT find records, would those searches resulting in no records found return the user to the control panel?

In my situation, the search button is on one form, and searches within a different form. I need focus to return to the form where the button is if no records are found in any given search.
Thank you,
Wanda

[Stan Mathews]

Hi Mike,
Thanks for the example. I see how it works for your situation, I think. If you did not create your own message that says it DID or DID NOT find records, would those searches resulting in no records found return the user to the control panel?

In my situation, the search button is on one form, and searches within a different form. I need focus to return to the form where the button is if no records are found in any given search.
Thank you,
Wanda

Are you hiding the control panel from your users, leaving yourself a passworded button to get to the control panel when needed? In this scenario there is no control panel for them to return to when no records are found. The user should automatically be returned to the calling form.

[Wanda Tucker]

Hi Stan,
No, since I'm still developing the app I have not hidden the control panel, yet.

I assumed that the control should go back to where it was executed unless otherwise instructed, but it doesn't. Is it going to the control panel because it has no clue where else to go?
Thank you,
W

[Stan Mathews]

Hi Stan,
No, since I'm still developing the app I have not hidden the control panel, yet.

I assumed that the control should go back to where it was executed unless otherwise instructed, but it doesn't. Is it going to the control panel because it has no clue where else to go?
Thank you,
W

Yep.

It might save you some headaches and needless manipulation of the interface to proceed with hiding the control panel and observe the behavoir that you will face later anyway.

[Mike Wilson]

Tables not Forms

In my situation, the search button is on one form, and searches within a different form. I need focus to return to the form where the button is if no records are found in any given search.

Wanda,

The function looks for records in a table based upon a filter. This filter would be the same as that used in your search. Think of the function as a 'probe'. Using this function it can probe the table that this second form is based on without having to open the second form. If the 'probe' returns a value >0, have the script open the form and execute the query. If the 'probes' returns a value of 0, then go nowhere and maybe throw up a message 'no records'. There does not have to be a 'return' because you haven't shifted focus anywhere.

Mike W

[Cheryl Lemire]

Wanda,

It appears you are closing the form prior to running the query and loading the new form:

'Close Quick Screen

I would add the following code, prior to closing your quick screen:

'Are there matching records present in the table?
dim global tbl as P
dim global qry as P
dim global nrecs as N

tbl = table.open([COLOR=Red]table_name[/COLOR])

query.description = "Search for matching records"
query.order = [COLOR=Red]order_name[/COLOR]
query.filter = [COLOR=Red]filter_name[/COLOR]
query.options = ""
qry = tbl.query_create()

nrecs = qry.records_get()
IF (nrecs = 0) then
qry.drop()
ui_msg_box("Null Query","There are no matching records in this search, unable to proceed" ,UI_INFORMATION_SYMBOL)
tbl.close()
end        'If there are no matching records, script ends here

else

Note the 'red' text in the above code. You would need to substitute those with your table, filter, order enclosed in quotation marks "".

And then at the end of your code, after:

     end if
 else 
     varP_Sites = :Form.viewqueried(layout_name,query.filter, query.order )
 
 end if

Add the following lines of code to end the 'Are there matching records present in the table? when there are matching records:

end if
 xbasic_wait_for_idle()
 tbl.close()

[Wanda Tucker]

Hi Cheryl,
How do you whizzes create code this quickly?! I'm always impressed with the responses like this that I get - and you're all so helpful. Where would I be without you?!

Okay - I'm printing out your suggested coding and will see what I can do...am leaving in an hour, so if I don't get it, I'll be back tomorrow.

Thanks again, Cheryl and everyone :)
Wanda

[Wanda Tucker]

Sorry, Mike...didn't mean to ignore your last suggestion. If I went that route, wouldn't I end up with the Quick Screen menu being left open after each search button is pushed?

Also, I don't see how the query could even look for the records if the table and form aren't even opened...so, how could the query be run, and open the form only if records are found? I'm seriously confused, now...maybe that's a beauty of code - that code can make things happen even without the table being opened...Lord knows. I HATE CODE! It just never makes much sense to me...guess I'm like that guy with the high IQ who posted his frustrations - except that I think my IQ is pretty normal...

Okay, I'm done. Gonna work on Cheryl's code, now.

Thanks again!
Wanda

[Stan Mathews]

Also, I don't see how the query could even look for the records if the table and form aren't even opened...so, how could the query be run, and open the form only if records are found?

Several alpha functions, not code, process records in a table without you having to open the table. Tablesum(), dbsum(), and the corollary count, avg, etc. are some of the more common ones. You specify the table name as one of the parameters and Alpha does the work for you.

Description

The A5_GET_RECORDS_IN_QUERY() function returns the number of records in the specified table or set that satisfy a query expression.

I don't imagine you need to understand how it does this than you need to understand how the f_upper() function capitalizes the first letter of a character expression. All you do with f_upper() is specify the character string. A5_GET_RECORDS_IN_QUERY() is a little more complicated because you have to specify the query filter expression, but do't let that stop you from trying.

Mike has given you a nice example of using the output of the A5_GET_RECORDS_IN_QUERY() function to branch in action scripting. Well worth time studying when you have the time.

[Wanda Tucker]

Table not found...why?

Hey Cheryl, Stan, Mike,
I've incorporated Cheryl's code, and the first error I get is that it can not find the table to open.

Yes, I double checked the spelling...here is the beginning of the code, up to Line 10:

'Date Created: 23-May-2006 10:40:48 AM
'Last Updated: 23-May-2006 10:40:48 AM
'Created By : tuckerw
'Updated By : tuckerw
'Are there matching records present in the table?
dim global tbl as P
dim global qry as P
dim global nrecs as N

tbl = table.open(sites)

[Wanda Tucker]

Okay, Stan. Thank you for your encouragement...where do you get your patience? I'll work with it tomorrow :)
Wanda