Popup List dynamic change to Standard Field 1

[Steve101]

I have inherited the maintenance of a Filemaker 4.6 database, and after a few weeks, know just about enough to be dangerous.

My "main" user enters order information into a data entry; this includes a popup list which I changed from a Standard field, to populate the product code on an order line. She now complains that it was faster when she could just enter the standard codes (she knows them 95% by heart). Now she has to double click (or press escape) to close the product list which appears when the field is entered).

Other users like the popup-list capability.

I would like to keep everyone happy, so .... my questions are:

(a) Is it possible to suppress the automatic opening of the pulldown list when the ProductCode field gets the focus, and get the list only if a certain key (combination) is pressed? or:

(b) Is it programatically possible to have a button which a user can press (say on logon), which automatically activates the popup list on that field, for the session, or alternatively, automatically changes it back to a standard field?

Any help, greatly appreciated,

Thanks in advance,


Steve Lewy
Solutions Developer
steve@lewycomputing.com.au
(dont cut corners or you'll go round in circles)

 

[marty1452]

Your solution could be quite simple. If I understand the problem, you have one advanced user and many not so advanced users.

I would go in the layout mode and duplicate the layout in question. Rename one of the layout Adv-XXXX, (advanced-plus the other layout name), and leave the other name the same. On the ADV layout, make the field a standard field. The advanced user can make any entry they wish.

On the other layout, the not so advanced will have the drop down menu to choose from.

There are many ways to navigate the advanced user to the correct screen. A simple ADV button on the original layout off in the corner could be enough. The cool way would be to script it based on the user login.

This could be done with a script something like this:

If[Status ( CurrentUserName ) = "Sally"]

Go To Layout[Adv-XXXX]

else

Go To Layout[regular]

end if

If multiple user are advanced users, your script would look like this:

Status ( CurrentUserName ) = "Sally" or Status ( CurrentUserName ) = "Tom" or Status ( CurrentUserName ) = "Deb"

Go To Layout[Adv-XXXX]

else

Go To Layout[regular]

end if

I hope this is what you need.

Marty

 

[Steve101]

Marty,

Many thanks for your response. I had considered the option you propose, but was reluctant because I did'nt want to carry the overhead of having to have and maintain two copies of the file every time something changed; it seemed a pity to have to go this path. I was hoping for a more elagent dynamic way of programattically changing the field from standard to popup and visa versa. Does'nt seem that this is possible though (sigh).

Anyway, I've now changed the system back to the standard option (to keep the main user happy); the customer has decided that he doesnt want to spend any money on upgrading the system, so at this point, thats the way it stays.

Your approach is eminently workable, and given the fact that the system would'nt change very much anyway, its also a reasonable approach under the circumstances, so many thanks, and a star for your efforts,

Cheers,


Steve Lewy
Solutions Developer
steve@lewycomputing.com.au
(dont cut corners or you'll go round in circles)

 

[Schlogg]

Steve,
There is a way of doing what you want to do - elegantly. If you are still interested email me -
snospamheaven@zip.com.au
(Leave out the 'nospam'.)

Cheers,
Paul J.

 

[Steve101]

Hi Paul,

Any chance of posting the posting the solution in tek-tips, so that others can also get the benefit from it.

If thats an option, I would really appreciate it.

Thanks,
Steve

Steve Lewy
Solutions Developer
steve@lewycomputing.com.au
(dont cut corners or you'll go round in circles)

 

[marty1452]

One way of doing this without an additional layout is by utiliizing 2 fields on the same layout and a visability feature for each.

I you have the room on the layout, place both fields. To the user this may cause some confusion so implement a visibility feature for both fields based on the user login.

If[Status ( CurrentUserName ) = "Sally"]
setfield(dropdown visibilty, 1)
setfield(static field visiblity, 0)

else

setfield(dropdown visibilty, 0)
setfield(static field visiblity, 1)

end if

If you are not familiar with visability fields, let me know or I think you can find it a

http://www.databasepros.com.

click on the resource link and look for visibility.

The end result of this is going to be one field showing on the layout depending on the type of user loggin.

I hope this helps.

Marty

 

[Steve101]

Thanks Marty,

I thing thats what I was looking for.

Cheers,


Steve Lewy
Solutions Developer
steve@lewycomputing.com.au
(dont cut corners or you'll go round in circles)

 

[Schlogg]

On your layout, set up two copies of the field Product Code.
Format the first field with a drop down list of codes and the second as a normal field.
Set up a little down arrow (like a scroll arrow) as a button.
Put the second copy of Product Field over the first copy. Make it transparent. Put the little arrow to the right of the fields. Define the arrow button as "Go to field Product Code".
If you don't know the codes you click the button and it will take you to the first copy of Product Code and the list drops down.
If you know the code, you just enter it without clicking the button and getting the dropdown list.
Unfortunately I cannot give credit where it's due because I cannot remember where I pinched this from. It works and works well.
HTH

Cheers,
Paul J.

 

[Steve101]

Thanks Paul,

Much appreciated,

Steve Lewy
Solutions Developer
steve@lewycomputing.com.au
(dont cut corners or you'll go round in circles)