open a non alpha file

[Ian_Edwards]

Hi

is there a way of calling a help file by relative path instead of absolute?

The problem is if I create a help file and place it in my database directory ie c:\data\database.db

When I create a runtime install it and then call help it still looks for the help file in c:\data.......

thanks

Ian

[Doug Page]

Re: open a non alpha file

Relative to what?

\help\help.file

This has help file in a subdirectory called help under the DB's root.

[Ian_Edwards]

Re: open a non alpha file

Hi thanks for that but if I create an action script to call a help file from a button using the open a non alpha file and type in for the path
either \help\help.chm or /help/help.chm

Alpha tells me file not found I have to put the complete path in ie c:\databases\testdatabase\help\help.chm

When I distribute it the database will not be in that folder structure it will be in something like c:\program files\database\golf\help\help.chm

Am I missing something?

thanks

Ian

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: open a non alpha file

Ian,

I think one solution to this would be to create a small configuration table that the user can edit. This table would always and only contain a single record, with fields like:

Organization_name
Org_addr1
Org_addr2
Org_state
Org_City
Org_zip
-- and so on --

This table would be read whenever the database opens. Field values stored in global variables. The globals could then be used in forms and reports.

If you include a field in this same table that contains the actual path to the local user's help file, that field value could also be stored in a variable and used in your scripts whenever the help file must be opened. The autoexec script could populate the table field automatically if it's empty on startup.

A second alternative is available if the help file is going to be stored in a path that includes the database folder. You can retrieve the path to the database any time you need it using either a5.get_path() or a5.get_master_path() depending upon whether the database has been optimized... this path could be stored in a variable, so then you could extend the path to the help file with something like:

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\"
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\\help\\help.chm"


-- tom

[Ian_Edwards]

Re: open a non alpha file

Hi Tom

I like that it's cunning! I'll give it a try

Ian

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: open a non alpha file

Let us know how it goes. I think maybe I have my backslashes mixed up, so don't let that confuse you. -- tom

[Ian_Edwards]

Re: open a non alpha file

Sorry to be a pain what I've done is created a directory in the database directory called help. Using your hint/code I've created the xbasic as follows

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\"
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\\help\\tigerpro.chm"
'Open file: tigerpro.chm
if file.exists("tigerpro.chm") then
sys_open("tigerpro.chm")
else
ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File 'tigerpro.chm' does not exist.",ui_stop_symbol)
end if


Using my help button I use the on press event to call a script and I inserted the above code in that script. When I press the button it tell me that tigerpro.chm does not exist yet it is in the directory.

Is my code incorrect? I notice that the line 'Open file: tigerpro.chm does not have a closing '

thanks

Ian

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: open a non alpha file

Help_file = a5.get_path() +"\help\tigerpro.chm"
'Open file: tigerpro.chm
if file.exists(help_file) then   'include path and filename in the var
   sys_open(help_file)  'include path and filename in the var
else
   ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File 'tigerpro.chm' does not exist in the path you specified.",ui_stop_symbol)
end if

Ian, you should review the differences between a5.get_path() and a5.get_master_path(). The code supplied above will fail if run from a shadowed machine.

[Jim Coltz]

Re: open a non alpha file

Sorry to be a pain what I've done is created a directory in the database directory called help. Using your hint/code I've created the xbasic as follows

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\"
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\\help\\tigerpro.chm"
'Open file: tigerpro.chm
if file.exists("tigerpro.chm") then
sys_open("tigerpro.chm")
else
ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File 'tigerpro.chm' does not exist.",ui_stop_symbol)
end if


Using my help button I use the on press event to call a script and I inserted the above code in that script. When I press the button it tell me that tigerpro.chm does not exist yet it is in the directory.

Is my code incorrect? I notice that the line 'Open file: tigerpro.chm does not have a closing '

thanks

Ian

Hi Ian,

I think you need to substitute the variable for the actual file name in your code. Something like this.

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\"
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\\help\\tigerpro.chm"
'Open file: tigerpro.chm
if file.exists(help_folder) then 
	sys_open(help_folder)
else
	ui_msg_box("Error Opening File","File "+help_folder+" does not exist.",ui_stop_symbol)
end if

[Stan Mathews]

Re: open a non alpha file

Tom's code corrected a problem in the original.

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\" [COLOR="Red"]' this is fine but will cause trouble with the next line[/COLOR]
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\\help\\tigerpro.chm" [COLOR="red"]'this line repeats the leading backslash in the path (doubled incorrectly) and doubles the backslash before the file name[/COLOR]

Suggested alternatives are:

Database_folder = a5.get_path() 
Help_folder = Database_folder + "\help\tigerpro.chm"

Database_folder = a5.get_path() +"\\"
Help_folder = Database_folder + "help\tigerpro.chm"

Adding Backslash Characters

If you need to include a backslash in an expression, use a second backslash to escape it. (Should say ...include a backslash before a closing quote in an expression.)

myvar = "\\"

? myvar

= "\"

[Doug Page]

Re: open a non alpha file

Ian,

Am a little confused as this works very well from a simple Action Script. Just to make sure that we are doing the same things:

1. Create a button, call it what you want and select to define script with Action Scripting.
2. Add a new action, select the category "Miscellaneous" and the Action "Open a non-Alpha Five file"

3. In the "How will you specify the name of the file to open" dropdown box, click on the dropdown arrow and select "Specify an expression that evaluates to the name of the file to open". In the expression box below this, click on the "x-y" button.

4. Type in the expression - a5.get_path()+"\help\abcchm.chm". Of course, substitute the appropriate filename for your help file. You should see the path evaluated to the path/filename that you are attempting to open. Click the OK button.

5. Save the script and then the form it is attached to.

Now when you run the form, it should work as advertised.

[Ian_Edwards]

Re: open a non alpha file

Hi

yes we are talking about the same thing and yes it's egg on face time again!

I failed to work out the a5.get_path()+"\help\abcchm.chm option in the actionscripting options.

many grovelling thanks to one and all

Ian