Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

[nigeldude]

I have a customers form with no browse on it to show all customers. I have a mark button to mark the current record after selecting it by a "Find" field. This is use to batch print and email customers historry.

I would like a way to show the user all the marked customers, I'm not sure how to go about this, should it be a broswe based on another table called "marke_customers", can they all be placed in a variable, then after that how do I placed them in there and also have them removed if the user decides to unmark a customer?

Any thoughts anyone?

[MikeC]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Nigel,
It all depends on how you or your users want it done. You can have a browse, mark the records and use a query to show the records. Or if a list is wanted that can be say placed on a form, you can use the form level methods to fetch through the records and create a crlf list....or use table methods behind the scenes if you have a different way to mark records and you just want the crlf list generated. I don't think there is an advantage with either except the fetching through a browse may take longer if a lot of records or over a network.

Removing them can be just an operation or a slower way, a fetch through record script.

I'll be off here most of the day but when you decide which of the multitude of ways to do this let us know and if noone else helps, I'll check back tonight.

[nigeldude]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Thanks for the offer Mike, I really need assistance. I got so frustrated with that feature I just undo all and decide to leave it out.

But since there's no customer's browse on that form I think it's like working in the dark after a while trying to remember who has been marked so far and who hasn't. The only way to tell is to build the report and check. That's not very efficient.

The method that took me the farest was when I created a table called "Customers_marked" I placed some codes under the "Mark" button to copy each customer from the customer's table to this new table as its being marked.
That worked eventually, but then when I try to get the "Un Mark" button to also delete the selected customer from the "Customers_marked" table, I ran into all sorts of errors. And it got worst when I tried to Use the "Un Mark All" button along with the "Zap Table" code, that one will never work, because the "Customers_marked" table is in use.

I read you options a few times and I'm a bit disappointed in myself to say this, but those I don�t understand. Please select an option for me, which ever one that doesn't really copy the marked records to another table, but just dynamically show them then on the form, it doesn't matter to me if it's a brows, a RTF, or anything else. But I need a record to leave the list when it is unmarked.

Thanks again, I await your response.

[MikeC]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Hi Nigel,
Took a while to get back to this--I have both ways...browse and table methods working.

From what you have said, it sounds like you would like to have this done from a form's button and No browse.....so I need just a few bits of info from you in order to customize the script.

First create a Memo field (if you don't have one for the list)--let me know if it is going to be on the form or just in the table...makes no difference but need to know.

Memo field name (and what table if not the same):.....?

Table name:.....?

Table Field's name that is to go into the list:.....?

May be prudent to tell me your set structure especially if there is one, where does the table in question reside?

Once I have this info I will place it accordingly in the script.

[nigeldude]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

If the memo field is to show the marked customers, then I�ll deffinately place it on the form.

The name of the Table is �Consignee�
The ID = Consign_Id
Name Field = Consign

The set is: consignee_shipments
The Consignee table is the parent.

The nma of the form is : Consignee


I�m not sure I understand the memo field part, but if I have given you enough, then please fill in the rest and I�ll make the changes to mines to match yours..

You said �done from a form's button and No browse�, the only brows that may be on the form is if you place one there to show all the marked consignees.

If there�s anything other detail you need, please feel free to let me know.

Thanks for you assistance.

[MikeC]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Hi Nigel,
Please attempt to understand the script to see how it is done--I commented it to try and make it easier to follow...any questions, just ask. Quite a bit of code can be obtained via action scripting and then converting to xbasic--quite a bit of what follows is just that.

You said you wanted to see the marked records. The two easiest ways I know of are to use a browse (queried for marked records from a button usually) or a memo field. The following uses a memo field on a parent form.

So create a memo field in your parent table (Consignee) called a_Memo and place it on your form.

Place the following code on a button's OnPush event --you can use the InLine xbasic Action Script.

topparent:a_Memo.value=""
topparent.commit()

dim t as p
DIM records_found as N
dim global lst as c 'may not need to be global

lst=""
t = table.open("Consignee")

query.filter = "marked()"
query.order = "Consignee"   'could have used "recno()"
query.options = ""
query.description = ""

t.query_create() 'uses the above filter and order

'tells us how many records will be found
records_found = A5_GET_RECORDS_IN_QUERY("Consignee","marked()")

' if any records are found it will fetch through the records of the query
'    until the last record is reached --eof means "end of file"
'if no records, then messagebox comes up
if records_found>0
    t.fetch_first() 
    while .not. t.fetch_eof()
          lst=lst+crlf()+t.Consign ' 'takes the list and adds itself to the next marked
''                                           value-the crlf() is a carriage return line feed
''                                          This puts the next value on separate line which 
''                                           becomes a crlf list.
          t.fetch_next()
    end while
  else
    msgbox("There are no Marked records!")
end if

t.close() 'closes the table
lst=remove_blank_lines(lst) 'removes any blank lines in the list

topparent:a_Memo.value=lst  'sets the list values into the memo field
topparent.commit()

++=========================+++====================++
Now if a browse is used to view the records the following could be used--your browse name would have to be used in place of the ones in the code (in red). If a memo field is to be used in conjunction with the browse on the same form then you also need to add the memo field as before and change the column name of what would be on the list (the one associated with the "Consignee" field...they are highlighted in blue below.

If all that is wanted is the browse to be queried for the marked records then just use

topparent.queryrun("marked(\"Consignee\")","","","No","",.f.)

It was taken from the code generated from an action script for a query is all.

DIM records_found as N
dim rec_num as n
dim global lst as c
lst=""
records_found = topparent.queryrun("marked(\"Consignee\")","","","No","",.f.)
if records_found>0
    topparent:[COLOR=Red]browse5[/COLOR].fetch_last()
    rec_num=recno()
    topparent:[COLOR=Red]browse5[/COLOR].fetch_first()

    lst=topparent:[COLOR=Red]Browse5[/COLOR]:[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Your_Column_name[/COLOR].value
nxt:
    if recno()<>rec_num
       topparent:DIM records_found as N
dim rec_num as n
dim global lst as c
lst=""
records_found = topparent.queryrun("marked(\"Consignee\")","","","No","",.f.)
if records_found>0
    topparent:[COLOR=Red]browse5[/COLOR].fetch_last()
    rec_num=recno()
    topparent:[COLOR=Red]browse5[/COLOR].fetch_first()

    lst=topparent:Browse5:[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Your_Column_name[/COLOR].value
nxt:
    if recno()<>rec_num
       topparent:[COLOR=Red]browse5[/COLOR].fetch_next()
       lst=lst+crlf()+topparent:[COLOR=Red]Browse5[/COLOR]:[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Your_Column_name[/COLOR].value
       goto nxt
   end if    
   topparent:a_Memo.value=lst
   topparent.commit()
 else
   msgbox("There are no Marked records!")
end if.fetch_next()
       lst=lst+crlf()+topparent:[COLOR=Red]Browse5[/COLOR]:[COLOR=RoyalBlue]Your_Column_name[/COLOR].value
       goto nxt
   end if    
   topparent:a_Memo.value=lst
   topparent.commit()
 else
   msgbox("There are no Marked records!")
end if

An Operation to unmark all records can easily be done and then run from the same button or a separate one.

EDIT: UnMark records--can also be done with this code. Only open the table again only if using this code separate from the above Table method.
dim tbl as p
tbl=table.open("Consignee")
tbl.unmark_range(".T.")
tbl.close()
topparent:a_Memo.value=""
topparent.show_all()

[nigeldude]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Hey mike, thanks for setting that up for me mein. But due to the fact that i try to avoide codes as much as possible from day 1. I really dont understand your samples.

Is it possible to send me the project? I'll get the action scripting, then i'll be able to modify it if needs be.

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

The method that took me the farest was when I created a table called "Customers_marked" I placed some codes under the "Mark" button to copy each customer from the customer's table to this new table as its being marked.
That worked eventually, but then when I try to get the "Un Mark" button to also delete the selected customer from the "Customers_marked" table, I ran into all sorts of errors. And it got worst when I tried to Use the "Un Mark All" button along with the "Zap Table" code, that one will never work, because the "Customers_marked" table is in use.

Hey Nigeldude,

I think this method you describe is not bad for what you are trying to do. Maybe it just needs refinement? Here's how I would do it using your method:

1. On your main customer table have a button that copies the record to your "marked" table. But don't actually "mark" any records on the main table - just copy them.
2. On you marked table, have an embedded browse on a form w. a delete button. You can call the button: "remove form marked list", but really the button just deletes the current record from the "marked" table.
3. If you want to delete all "marked" records - use the RECORD_DELETE() function. e.g.

RECORD_DELETE("marked_table_name",.T.)

[nigeldude]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

So what ur saying then Peter is; the batch processing would be run from the records in the marked table, and not from the main table?

[Peter.Greulich]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

So what ur saying then Peter is; the batch processing would be run from the records in the marked table, and not from the main table?

Correct. Basically you never touch the main table. You just copy records from there as you have been doing in the past.

[nigeldude]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

I'll try that and see if it works, but I also sent my project to Mike to let him include the actions for, I'll compare the pros and cons of them both.

Thanks mein.

[MikeC]

Re: Dynamic List To Show Only Marked Records

Hi,
Always so many ways to tackle a problem and many times it does simply come down to personal preference. I prefer the browse if I were to do this with the ability to mark records directly or via a button and then being able to just show those records or all records when wanted. Or in combination with a memo field.

It seemed like what was wanted just a memo field on a form so that is what I sent him---but the script is mostly done for a browse if the desire arises. Peter or someone else can help with the temp/secondary table. :)

One note is that Referential Integrity is set on a couple of the tables in the involved set and commonly linked--I was able to get my script to work but the Mark and UnMark buttons would lock the tables most times unless it was turned off--on a network I think it may even be worse for locking.??