how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

[fddizon]

hi to all,

im having troubles in locking buttons in a multi-user application....

i have 3 buttons currently that opens an invoice form, these 3 buttons calls the same invoice form and i just rename their window bar name based on the buttons text (caption) for me to track which button was clicked.
my buttons text are:
Table1
Table2
Table3

now, what i want to achieve is that if user1 clicked the Table1 button, Table1 button will be locked on the current user and other users screen too. other users of course will not be able to click Table1 button since its already locked by user1. & vice versa, if then user2 clicked Table2 button, other users Table2 button should be locked too till the invoice transaction is billed out.

please help

thanks in advance

[Tom Cone Jr]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

Francis, I don't think this is possible. The current instance of Alpha Five running on workstation #1 cannot change the properties of form objects in a second instance of Alpha Five running on workstation #2. Even if it were possible I think this is an unwise design choice. If user1 goes to lunch after locking the table the other workstations are unable to complete their work. Even worse if user1 locks the table and then goes on holiday. May I ask why you want to lock other users out of the table when someone else on the network has opened a form that uses the same table?

[fddizon]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

Tom,

thanks for the prompt response...

May I ask why you want to lock other users out of the table when someone else on the network has opened a form that uses the same table?

(Table1, 2 and 3 stands for physical table on a restaurant) sorry for not making it clear

basicaly, the application is for a restaurant billing. i designed this for a single user and i think it will work for a single cashiering only since the payment method is pay after the customers finished their food. the user enters orders on the billing and get back to it if more additional orders are made. or user can collect the order slips per table and enter them to invoice if they will bill-out.

restaurant with multi-cashiering use pay after customer ordered food just like on fast food restaurant so table reservation is not an issue.

a1-res does this but im not sure if he used buttons on his hotel reservation app.

thanks

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

I don't really understand what you are doing, But I think Tom is right that your method is probably not the best way to do it. Nonetheless, you could have a separate table w. 3 records corresponding to your 3 tables. When the Table1 button is pushed, change the corresponding table1 record to "locked" or whatever. Make the 3 button's code 1st check to see if the record for that table is already "locked", if it is, end the script, otherwise open the form.

[MikeC]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

Francis,

I think I understand what it is you are attempting to do. I plan a similar strategy for when servicing a Machine (substitute your Table for this). Once a Machine has been scheduled to be visited (your Table is in use) I will have a logical field set to True. Now the only way to schedule the same Machine (your Table to be in use) to be serviced is when this logical field is False. Once serviced (billed out in your case), the logical field is once again set to False.

This is an absolute requirement to have in my case and for you it has to be done in this way as how can you have two groups using the same table at the same time?

Sound about right??




NOTE: Well, I do visit a small cafe in which this actually does happen--matter of fact sometimes there have been 5-6 different bills for the same table at the same time (people sharing their table with others)...if your restaurant does not allow this then your "table locking" would work.

[fddizon]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

peter,

i made some confusion to my post. Table1, Table2, Table3 are my buttons text or captions if we use vb. the application as i said is for a restaurant. mike got the idea what i am trying to accomplish.

let me explain it more so others might chime and share better ideas to make my approach dynamic. suppose i have a 3 cottages and these cottages are mapped on my 3 buttons in my main form, namely Cottage1, cottage2 and cottage3 respectively. since the bar/restaurant bills the client after they are done with their dringking and eating, the current design that i have will work. what my app do?

if customers arrive and occupied cottage1 and orders are taken, the encoder enters their order clicking the button cottage1. this button opens the form invoice and create a header record instantly (thats adding a new record and saving it) then name it on the window bar as the buttons text which is Cottage1, locking the cottage1 because it is occupied. when customers again occupies other cottages, encoder must not use the occupied cottage right so i lock the button and fill some back color on it to stand out. but a question came accross to me... what if there will be 2 or more cashiers like to those on fast food rest.? then came the answer that fast food rest. differs from bar/rest. with its billing method. fast food bills right after you order and customers selects whichever tables they would want to occupy so tables now here are not an issue anymore. but with a bar and restaurant that bills after they ate. my current design will work since it can accomodate all customers since its not that huge of a restaurant. now if its huge and will need more billing computers, peter suggested that i will save the status to a table so it will reflect on other computer as well.

mike, customers on this rest. comes in groups. they dont share tables like in cafe or fast food. if they do, my buttons captions are editable on the fly. they can add a button and say split Table1 and Table1-A for the time being. i have blank buttons hidden on the main form just in case they will need more tables, rooms or cottages.

thanks peter... i will look into this tonight and update you how it goes.
will ask for more help to you guys when i get stuck.

tnx again

[turbojack]

Re: how to lock buttons in a multi user app?

Why not have a table call say Main. Have logical field for each cottage (button). When you want the button locked you have the field changed to true, otherwise the field is false (button unlocked). If the main form is always open have a timer and fetch event go and do a lookup on this one line in the main table. Based on what each field is set to the script then either has each button locked or not.