auto complete lookup to update information

[eboughey1]

I'm currently using the lookup function to update some fields but I wonder if it is possible to set it up similar to a google search.

You start typing the information and a list of matches shows up and when you click on it, it updates the fields like a lookup. I know it'
s a programming thing, but would it be ajax or javascript or something else?

the website info is below if you want to look at it. I'm trying to have it update information from a previous job number:

http://www.mailtimenet.com
user: alphauser
pass: temp123

The format is a grid. I had it all laid out before I realized that a dialog would be easier to manipulate....

[ColinJD]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

As per
http://www.alphasoftware.com/alphafi...p30000AJAX.asp
I'd say AJAX is the best way of doing this.
Also I suggest that a real mind blowing experience for the user would be to take it one step more with prediction.
-
Example
the user is going to enter in the word New York and then
When the user enters the letter N, we know its a state and most likelly to be New York, why not put New York at the top of the list instead of the typical alphabetical order. Naturally to gain this probability type information recording results into a database would help.

[eboughey1]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

That's the perfect answer for me on this.

I have the Alpha Sports web application as well so I could go in and see how they programmed it from there.

Thanks so much.

[eboughey1]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

Okay. It shows that the sample ajax callback is written on an a5w page.

Since I have a grid will I still be able to utilize it? If so, where would I put the code? The grid has been created primarily with the Freeform Layout...

This is the code I pulled out of the sample web app.

<table>
<tr><td>Dealer</td><td><input id="f_dealername" name="f_dealername"
></td></tr>
<tr><td>Address</td><td><input id="f_address" name="f_address"
></td></tr>
<tr><td>City</td><td><input id="f_city" name="f_city"
></td></tr>
<tr><td>State</td><td><input id="f_state" name="f_state"
></td></tr>
<tr><td>Zip</td><td><input id="f_zip" name="f_zip"
></td></tr>
</table><script type="text/javascript">
var customerSuggest = new a5_AJAX_autoSuggest('f_Company',{
url: 'AJAX_SuggestionList_DBF.ajax.a5w',
data: 'action=getCustomerList',
minimum: 1,
width: '',
columns: ['Dealer','City', 'State'],
className: 'A5SuggestionList',
item: {
selectedClassName: 'A5SuggestionListEntrySelected',
keyClassName: 'A5SuggestionListKey'
},
title: {
className: 'A5SuggestionListColumnTitle',
location: 'none'
},
onSelect: function(val){

a5_AJAX_Callback('AJAX_SuggestionList_DBF.ajax.a5w','action=FillInCustomer&customer_id='+val[2]); //val[2] is the value from the 3rd column in the item selected. (0 based array)
}
});
</script>

[ColinJD]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

Right, When You send a callback from your page to the alpha5.ajax page, somehow it knows which page to send it back to, and what it appears to do is write to the page.
What I have been doing with this is generally firing a Jscript type function.
So as an example you fire the jscript function that then changes a particular element that you know by the id. In your case you are using the id in your callback, thus you should just be able to write it back to your a5w page
here is an example of jscript to use in your page, (not checked)

function changeTheValueOf(idCalledBack, newValue )
{
     $(idCalledBack).value = newValue;
/// $(idCalledBack).innerHTML = newValue;   ///sometimes innerHTML is useful
}

And to call this from your Alpha5.AJAX page, you'd use something like,

?"changeTheValueOf("thegridelementsid",thenewlistvalue);"

[eboughey1]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

Is there a way that I could set up the auto suggest to work inside my dialog?

I know that the callback coding needs to go on a web page but can't I put something under the server information for the actual field in the dialog? The web app creates the field...

[ColinJD]

Re: auto complete lookup to update information

Everything is possible.
At the end of the day all the fields in your A5W Dialog Component, are really just standard HTML Elements. The components are just an easy way of encapsulating a whole chunk of boring HTML coding.
So, if you have a Component called DealerMaster and a control called Product
You'll probably find it has an id of something like "DealerMaster_PRODUCT"
I always check these by opening my already generated A5w page and component in FireFox or IE with viewing the Source.
You'll find the ID of the element there
and so thus from your AJAX.A5w page you then can write back something like
? $('DealerMaster_PRODUCT').value = SuggestedValue;