Conditional Object field oustide of Set

[Dave Mac Callum]

Hi There,

Can anyone give me some direction as to how to structure a system

I have a Product Set (refer attached).
Invoke Form Product Update
Under the Basic Tab, Locate the Highlight Field.

I need to put a Conditional Object around the Highlight Field.
The Condition is the Highlight field within Params_Global Table.

Invoke Form Params_Global.
As you see the Highlight field is set True

Params_Global Table is not part of Product_set (as it has no Product_Id linking Key)

The only way that I can see of including Params_Global � Highlight field into the Conditional Object selection is to first populate a Session Variable. That Variable would then be available when Product Set fields are shown when Conditional Object selection is offered.

The problem is that with this approach of design, I will end up with literally hundreds of Variables !

Is this the best way of achieving this ?

Looking forward

Dave Mac

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Dave,
It is not clear to me what you are doing. It seems that you wish for the value of the 'Highlight' field in the parms_global table to direct a conditional object in the products set. What you haven't detailed is:

1. Whether there will be one, or more than one record in the parms_global table. I can "guess" there will be more than one because of the "hundreds of variables' comment, but what you are doing is not clear.

2. What is the relationship between the record in the parms_global table and the record in the products set that creates the capacity for the value in the parms_global table to effect the record in the product set? There must be some relationship (link) for you to be able to utilize. If so, then have this be a calculated field using lookup(), or enter the value using a lookup() function.

I'm just guessing at this point.

[Dave Mac Callum]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Hi Mike,

Thanks for the reply.

Yes you are right, I wish for the value of the 'Highlight' field in the parms_global table to direct a conditional object in the products set.

1. There is only 1 Record in the parms_global table. If you invoke Table Properties. There are 76 Fields (maybe increase to > 100).

2. The fact of discussing this with you seemed to clarify my thinking. There is no relationship (link) betwen Product_set and parms_global table. Product Set addresses Product records and params_global address the System requirements. I see that now.

I have added a bit to the attachment I sent you yesterday, employing Variables to direct conditional objects. One can switch on/off Highlights; Multi-Warehouse; Serial No Prod by altering Form Params_Global. Is thsi the way to go or is there some other way of not ending up with "hundreds" of variables. Just seems "hundreds" of variables are a bit clumsy.

Any thoughts

Dave Mac

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Dave,
Again,
I remain absolutely clueless to what you are ultimately trying to achieve with the little you have described. Why you would, or you believe you would, end up with so many variables is something you haven't made clear. All I am aware of is the one condition you discussed... the condition of field 'highlight'.

Maybe if you detail what your trying to achieve, I can help more.

[Dave Mac Callum]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Hi Mike,

This is what I am trying to achieve :

I have a single Inventory Application, which serves a number of industries in the marketplace. The reason for this is that I feel it is simpler to alter a single Global Parameter to customize an application rather that to go into the Forms design and alter the Form for each and every different requirement.

This Application requires that Products be entered.

To enter products I have Products Update Form.

To enable me to use a single Products Update Form I use parameters to include or
exclude certain fields on the form, depending upon the particular industry I am addressing.

If I demonstrate the Product Update Form to a prospective customer, and this customer does not use Highlight, I Invoke Params_Global Form and I set Highlight parameter False in order that the Highlight Field in the Products Update Form does not display in order not to confuse him � (What is this Highlight field he asks ?). It is superfluous to his operation.

By the same token there is to-date an additional 75 such parameters in the Params_Global Table. The purpose is to include or exclude certain fields on the form, depending upon the particular industry I am addressing.

Using the attached Database, Control Panel; Code Tab; Invoke Script Autoexec. This populates 76 variables. These variables are required to be used in Conditional Objects to decide whether to display or not-display on Products Update Form.

If you go Control Panel; Form tab; Product Update Form; design and bring up Properties of Highlight field. If you go Setup Tab; and on var_Highlight Condition Expressing. Once the Expression Builder comes up F6 Variables; Global. 76 variables are displayed. These I use to Include / Exclude certain fields on Product Update Form. In this particular case var_Highlight

Hope this clarifies where I am going.

Dave Mac

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Dave,

You could reduce the clutter of variables by using one array variable. Such as

dim global vGlobal_params[1] as p

vGlobal_params.initialize_from_table("params_global")

This would result in a variable containing data like this

?vGlobal_params[1]
= AGLASS_SYST = .F.
ALLOC_COMPONENTS = ""
ALPHANUM_PRD_CODE = .F.
ALTERNATE_UOMS = .F.
ALTUOM_QUANT_DEC = 0
BAR_CODE_PRINT = ""
BATTERY_DEPOSIT = .F.
BOM_ASSEMBLY = .F.
BOM_QUANT_DEC = 0
CASH_BOOK_ACT = .F.
CONTRACT_SYST = .F.
COSTING_TYPE = ""
CRED_ACT = .F.
DEBT_ACT = .F.
DEBT_CR_LIMIT = ""
DEBT_SALES_HIST = .F.
DEBT_TERMS = ""
DIMEN_SYST = 0
ENGINE_NOS = .F.
ENGINE_NOS_TO_SER_FILE = .F.
FAST_MOVERS = .F.
GARMENT_SYST = .F.
GEN_LEDG_ACT = .T.
GLASS_DIMEN_ACCURACY = 0
GLASS_SYST = .T.
HIGHLIGHT = .F.
etc etc

You would then use the following in the conditional object

Var->vGlobal_params[1].highlight

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Dave,
Thank you for detailing you situation. This gives folks a handle on the need and how to help you. You have gotten help from the best. Tim has provided you a simple and elegant option. Good luck.

Tim,
Welcome back... You've been gone for a bit, and missed!

[Tim Kiebert]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Tim,
Welcome back... You've been gone for a bit, and missed!

Thanks Mike. I have a couple of large none computer type projects at the moment so not a lot of time for playing with A5. We are adding a new coolroom/cleanroom for some new packaging machinery. I work for a relatively small but dynamic company so not only am I the IT department but am also the maintenance department and the infrastructure department. That's what I get for not keeping my mouth shut.:)

I am still trying to keep up a bit with what is happening on the forum but just don't have a lot of time to respond to some of the more involved problems. Besides you seem to be doing a good job of that.

[Mike Wilson]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

I work for a relatively small but dynamic company so not only am I the IT department but am also the maintenance department and the infrastructure department. That's what I get for not keeping my mouth shut.

Oh,
So, your the... Infrastucture maintenence (IM), facilities management(FM), and Information technologist(IT) person. Your the IMFMIT person. Almost comes to sound like INFAMOUS". CLOSE ENOUGH! I'll go for it... infamous Tim!

[Dave Mac Callum]

Re: Conditional Object field oustide of Set

Hi Tim,

Great to see how versatile Alpha5 is.

But depressing to realise this learning curve is a lot longer than i had forseen.

Thanks for direction.

Seems that you are the Instruction Dept as well.

Regards,

Dave Mac