xdialog listbox refresh

[warmexxus]

Is Xdialog-listboxing a hard thing or what? My several attempts to keep listboxes fresh with current records have failed.

I'm attempting to use Keylist_build() a lot in my xdialogs because I like the column separators and such. I filter the keylists to show whatever records the user is looking for. When I add/edit/delete records from the listbox's selected table, the listbox won't display properly. Sometimes I have to close the dialog all together and reopen just to display the proper updated records. What would be the best bet for updating a listbox in xdialog?

Do I refresh the dialog? ui_dlg_refresh()
Do I refresh the keylist_build() + Filter again?
Do I close the dialog and reopen it, but how to keep it looking smooth during the transition?

I mean instead of hammering this for weeks, could someone share their genius thoughts on this topic? Thank you so much for all the previous help you've given me!

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

I'd suggest that you put the code that creates the listbox into a function.

To see listbox changes without closing the xdialog you have to refresh the listbox. So, when you "add/edit/delete records from the listbox's selected table" you should call the function above to redisplay the listbox contents. If the changes are made in the same xdialog you could add the function to the change code or to an event related to that change.

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

This is how I refresh the record-list listbox. It's basically suppose to refresh the listbox based on the filter I supply. So when I add/edit/delete an item, the listbox should refresh and show the updated information. It doesn't and I don't know how to accomplish this same multi-column record-list listbox without keylist_build() and the filter. Using a function outside of the main function, to repopulate the listbox, is something I don't see how that would work.
Actions:
1. FT = "WO_ID="+Current_Order
2. Tasks = "KL=workorders_tasks,{keylist_build('H=.025,1:0[],2:80[Description],3:10[Quantity],4:10[Time]',''+WO_Task_Usage,invert(''+Time),alltrim(Description),''+Quantity,''+Time)}{"+FT+"}"
3. ui_modeless_dlg_refresh(Title)

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Sound good?

1. I define several variables before an xdialog opens. They are blank at first.
2. I have a Listbox populated by keylist_build().
3. As a used doubleclicks a selection in the listbox, the variables are loaded with their appropriate values.
4. After that the dialog "changes views" which only means a conditional area is shown. In it are editboxes and such that display these variables for the user to see.
5. So at this point the editboxes should have updated information.

The refreshing of values works only sometimes, the times it doesn't work include when I run an external function that changes the record behind the scenes and then returns back to the xdialog.
I feel like the values are being updated, since they are actually in tables, but the dialog isn't wanting to update itself. Closing and reopening will fix the problem, but that's not my goal.

Should I be ui_dlg_refresh()'ing if the variables are defined within the same function? Should I make the main xdialog a modeless one, and the refresh will work better? How do other people show variables, change the values, and instantly refresh the display.

Also, listboxes don't like to be add/edit/delete 'd from I guess. Since if I delete a record that the listbox is showing, all other records visually disappear and I am left with the one value I deleted. Kind of confusing. Only if I close the xdialog and reopen do the records come back and show the correct information. I have events that are suppose to reload the listbox with a filtered keylist_build() but instead do nothing. How can I do this?

Thank you so much for reading this...this board is great!

Dan

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Dan:

It's easier to help on something like this with a code sample and, in your case, sample tables as well.

A refresh (dlg_refresh) is not required to redisplay records from a table. When you re-run a query and update the values in the array on which the box is based, the new values should be displayed automatically. This is the case whether the xdialog is modal or modeless so I wouldn't change that and expect a different result from what you are currently getting.

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Finnian,

I'm

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Here's two "Cases" from my xdialog. One Case "Delete_Task" deletes the selected record. The Other Case "Refresh_Tasks" is intended to refresh the record-listbox and show all records remaining that match my filter. This is all so familiar to me right now, if there's any confusion please let me know.

What happens is:
1. I click the "Delete" button which calls this event.
2. The Delete event removes the "Task" record from "workorders_tasks" table.
3. The refresh event is suppose to reload the keylist shown in the listbox.

The "Task" does get deleted from the table, but the listbox does not show the removal. I have to close the whole dialog (which is kinda big) to reload the listbox. Please help, thank you...

	case a_dlg_button = "Delete_Task"
		FT = "WO_ID="+Current_Order+".AND.WO_Task_Used="+Selected_Task
		IF tablecount("workorders_parts",FT) > 0 Then
			Result = ui_msg_box("Confirmation","Are you sure about deleting this task? If any parts are attached they will be returned to inventory!",UI_YES_NO)
	 		IF Result = ui_yes_selected THEN
				WO_Task_Removal(Current_Order,Selected_Task)
			END IF
		Else
			WO_Task_Removal(Current_Order,Selected_Task)
		END If
		ui_dlg_event(Title,"Refresh_Tasks")
		ui_modeless_dlg_refresh(Title)
		a_dlg_button = ""
	case a_dlg_button = "Refresh_Tasks"
		FT = "WO_ID="+Current_Order
		Task_Count = tablecount("workorders_tasks",FT)
		If Task_Count > 0 then
			Tasks = "KL=workorders_tasks,{keylist_build('H=.025,1:0[],2:80[Description],3:10[Quantity],4:10[Time]',''+WO_Task_Usage,invert(''+Time),alltrim(Description),''+Quantity,''+Time)}{"+FT+"}"
			Selected_Task = tablemax("workorders_tasks",FT,"WO_Task_USage")
		end if
		ui_modeless_dlg_refresh(Title)
		a_dlg_button = ""

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Much better, here's an example I put together. So simple. Please help. Thank you.

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Daniel, you're asking a good question. I've found examples showing how to refresh list boxes in other threads, but nothing that shows how to do it with a record-list list box such as you're using here. I'll be watching this thread to see what suggestions arrive, but it seems to me you're going to have to rebuild the list after you code manipulates the underlying table, if this even possible with this type of list box.

FYI, here's a thread that contains an example from Dr. Wayne illustrating how to refresh a simple list box in a modeless xdialog. http://msgboard.alphasoftware.com/al...dialog+refresh

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Daniel:

I was about to upload a sample file when I see you've posted a dowload. I'll take a look at that before responding further.

I misspoke earlier when I said that you should be able to refresh without a ui_dlg_refresh command. The only way I could get the listbox to refresh (when a table action, like a deletion, was carried out with xbasic) was, indeed, with ui_dlg_refresh.

The listbox built with keylist_build seems to behave differently from those built with an array based on table.external_record_content_get.

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

While I'm looking at your zip, here's the sample I was working on. This one, however, is a modal dialog.

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Sorry, here's the zip file.

BTW, I just noticed the issue you mentioned with deleting the first record in the list. It happens here too.

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Unfortunately I'll have to accept that this is an alpha issue and not my fault... :)

BTW, thank you for that small app. I can learn a lot from it. I don't know about local_variables() and alternating row colors...so it will be some food for thought... Thanks again guys...

Maybe if I'm lucky someone will come up with a solution... as I work around the problem...

:) happy day,
Dan

[Finian Lennon]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Dan:

I followed Tom's lead and took a look at the sample that Peter Wayne posted. As usual, Peter has the key, which is setting the value of the return variable to the value of the last item in the displayed list. When you do this, the box is automatically updated.

In the attachment, I have that value hard coded - although you will see remmed out code where I would otherwise get it directly from the table. The problem is that the listbox order is set to a character sort and the field in the table is numeric. The code in the example will work as long as there are more than 10 items in the list! If you change the table field type to character and pad the values so that the table and list sorts are the same you can derive the value as I show in the remmed out code.

To set the value of the last item I guessed that the format was
fieldname1 +"|"+fieldname2
which is similar to the format used in other xdialog lists and it appears to be correct. I couldn't see any way to actually see the data on which the keylist was built.

The code in this version does update the keylist after an addition or deletion, then sets the return variable value. It does not work unless the list is updated. It does not use the dlg_refresh. It also works when you delete the first item in the list.

Oops ... I just checked this in V7 (I was doing the testing in V8) ... In this sample I enlarged the list box. In V8, after an addition or deletion, the whole list displays properly. In V7, it shoots the last item to the top of the box and you have to scroll the list down to see the change.

[warmexxus]

Re: xdialog listbox refresh

Well that's the thing, I did set the return value to the item I wanted displayed next. Somehow yours doesn't misbehave as mine did. Maybe setting the return value with (value + "|" + info) does the trick, or maybe tasking the focus away from the dialog with the localvariables and that function....maybe that did it... my next step was to put keylist_builds into my indexes of the table and filter the index using a global variable that is set whenever I want to show whatever I need at the time...I was wondering if that would work.

Thank you I'm gonna try more stuff and get this correct if I can...
I'm thinking about setting focus to the listbox, then sys_send_keys("{HOME}")
to bring the list back to the top...if that's the case, then problem solved...

I'm going to lunch...thank you so much.
dan