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"Rename Form" destroys form

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    "Rename Form" destroys form

    I decided I wanted to capitalize a letter in the name of a form. I tried clicking on the name twice to put the name into edit mode, and that did nothing. So I right-clicked on the name and selected Rename. In the dialog I changed the letter and pressed enter. Then I got a message:
    Cannot overwrite existing layout of that name.
    The message has one button - OK. When I pressed that button the form disappeared from the list. It's gone.:(

    I've tried this several times -- I copied the form first so I'd have a backup -- and it happens each time.

    1) Is this supposed to happen?

    2) Is there any way to recover that form? (No, I don't have a recent backup)

    3) If not, shouldn't that be built into Alpha - a way to recover what got destroyed.

    Thanks in advance

    Les

    #2
    Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

    Les, you may have found a bug. The right click menu has the "Rename" option, but if all you do is change the case of the letters in the existing name, the form is deleted. The same thing happens if you try to rename the form with the same name. (i.e. without any case changes in the lettering). This can happen easily if a user clicks the OK button instead of the Cancel button after the Form Rename dialog opens.

    -- tom
    Last edited by Tom Cone Jr; 04-21-2007, 11:19 AM.

    Comment


      #3
      Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

      Thanks Tom,

      I've submitted a bug report. I gather there isn't any way of recovering the banished form.

      Les

      Comment


        #4
        Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

        That happened to me once early on in Version 8. I found that when I exited A5 and reloaded it, the form reappeared. Worth a try.

        --Karl

        Comment


          #5
          Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

          Originally posted by kfuss View Post
          That happened to me once early on in Version 8. I found that when I exited A5 and reloaded it, the form reappeared. Worth a try.
          In that case, try the refresh button on the control panel as well.
          Peter
          AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

          [email protected]
          https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


          Comment


            #6
            Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

            Karl,

            Thanks for the tip. However, when I tried it the form did not reappear. It may be because: a) I kept trying it to verify the action and may have flushed it from some memory stack. Upon restart I think another form re-appeared, but can't say for sure because so much happened. Or b) I've started to rebuild the form. Unfortunately needed to. I think I renamed slightly different, but I'm not sure. But at any rate the old one didn't reappear, and the new one I'm rebuilding is there.

            I'll try it with an expendable form on Monday when I can get back at it.

            Peter,

            I'm not sure what the refresh button is. I've looked but can't see one. I see View, Design, New and Delete, but not Refresh. If I'm just missing it, please direct me so I can learn that much more.

            Thanks all,

            Les

            Comment


              #7
              Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

              See image...

              Also try compacting the db.
              Peter
              AlphaBase Solutions, LLC

              [email protected]
              https://www.alphabasesolutions.com


              Comment


                #8
                Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                Thanks Peter,

                I was looking on the control panel and not above it. Good to open the eyes.

                I tried compacting as well. None of that brought back my form, so I'll have to rebuild. Unfortunately, the form dimmed about 50 variables which I'll have to track down from other forms so as to be able to reconstruct.

                Thanks to you and the others.

                Les

                Comment


                  #9
                  Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                  Hi Les,
                  I know you probably don't need to hear it (but others might). I have found it is a good idea to copy a form (add "test" to the end of the copy's name) before a serious edit, just in case I screw up the copy with my edits. If the new form works correctly you can delete the original form and rename the copy to the same name. If I am really worried, I rename the original form adding "old" to its name and keep it a while just in case!
                  Robin

                  Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                    I tried clicking on the name twice to put the name into edit mode, and that did nothing
                    ??
                    Double-clicking a form icon should open it in view mode.
                    Your form might have been corrupted to begin with.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                      Robin

                      I have tried a version of your approach which is to dupicate a form and adding a number which indicates the version of the form.

                      Unfortunately I have found that suddenly the forms do not work. That is a form works and then I duplicate it and name it form_01. I then open the original form and it does not work, neither does form_01.

                      This does not happen all the time but it has happened at least in three applicatons ( I believe that all were being edited with ver 8).

                      My apporach now is to backup before I make additional changes - I don't like the amount of space that requires - but it is better than re-doing the form.

                      Truman

                      Comment


                        #12
                        Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                        Truman,
                        I think adding a number at the end of the form name might cause problems with aliases when 2 instances of the form may be opened.
                        Robin

                        Discernment is not needed in things that differ, but in those things that appear to be the same. - Miles Sanford

                        Comment


                          #13
                          Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                          I'll have to test that out in the future. Thanks for the suggestion.

                          Truman

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                            I was subjected to the same thing that happened to lcbarker. Then I found that the only way to change a form name is to "copy it". This method preserves the form but you will lose all variables and calulated fields as well as any event scripts attached to them. The only scripts that are "copied" are those that are attached to buttons. (Don't ask....)

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Re: "Rename Form" destroys form

                              Les,

                              I duplicated a form by right clicking the name and selection Duplicate and then adding a '2' to the name. On the original form, I right clicked and selected Rename and changed a single letter to uppercase. The OK button grayed out and the only things I could click were the red X in the upper right corner or the Cancel button.

                              FWIW I am running Enterprise Edition, build 1575_3081.

                              I would also add that if you are making a lot of changes/updates (however you define 'a lot'), you should do a Database Compact on a regular basis.

                              Dave
                              Last edited by davej; 05-13-2007, 05:04 PM.
                              Dave Jampole
                              www.customalpha.com

                              Women and cats will do whatever they want. The sooner men and dogs realize that, the happier they will be.

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