Mike, One of the adjustments that has to be made in moving from 6.5 to 7.x is to recognize that 6.5 was non-standard Windows. In the newer versions, the program behaves much more like a Windows program ought to behave. One of the considerations is the order in which things are processed, and the escape key takes a high precedence. Hitting escape on any field will bypass the on-exit code on that field and, unless you have disabled the escape from form feature, will close the form.
For your input you need to use a variable memo field. A variable memo is intended to handle just the kind of data you are collecting. You can use a text, note or varchar datatype. A variable edit is normally used for a short text field or number value. You can accomplish your goal two ways - if you do not enable tabs in the variable memo, the tab key can be used to skip to the next object, which might be an "Ok" button that takes whatever action you wish, or, as Oma suggested, another text variable hidden behind the variable memo that has on-entry code to take the appropriate actions. The rich edit objects are designed to work with formatted text using the RTF editor. Emmitt Dove Manager, DairyPak Business Systems Blue Ridge Paper Products, Inc. [EMAIL PROTECTED] [EMAIL PROTECTED] (203) 643-8022 -----Original Message----- From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of Michael Sinclair Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 9:09 PM To: RBASE-L Mailing List Subject: [RBASE-L] - RE: Variable fields in a form 6.5 vs 7.6 Hi Oma, Here is a bit more info... The form has more than one field, it displays a lot of data. The data is there to help guide the user as to what they wish to put into the only field that can be edited. This could be done by typing or by voice recognition. The data that is to be entered is usually a few lines long, but it could be a few paragraphs. That would look strange in a dialog box. In version 6.5, once the user was done entering the data, it was pretty easy for them to hit escape and exit the form. If they do that now, they lose the data without warning....not good. I would think that the act of hitting the escape key would fire an exit EEP, but it does not. Apparently hitting the escape only looks like the user is leaving the field. I would think that the good folks at Rbase would have left us with some sort of option to use the escape and exit method that worked so well in version 6.5. Can you think of any reason that method should be eliminated? As far as the Variable Edit field properties, I am confused. The properties give the option of setting the height and the width of the field in pixels. The field can also be stretched both vertically and horizontally by dragging with a mouse. But only the width in pixels is saved. The height in pixels appears to be ignored as soon as you save the form. If setting the height is not a feature of the Variable Edit, why is it there in the first place?? Also, can you tell me the difference between a Variable Rich Edit and a Variable Memo Edit? How do I know when to use which one? Are the properties different? TIA!! Mike At 02:30 PM 8/26/2007, you wrote: >Mike, >I suggest as an alternative to your method of using ESC. > >I would place a second var field behind the first. >Order the field with the first var being first (on top). >Then enter the information into the var field and press enter. >In the on exit eep of the first var edit field I would put this! > >Closewindow >Return > > > >Why use a form for one var entry! > >That is what a dialog box is for! > >I quit using esc as a mean of exiting forms, dialog and pauses. > >I turn off the min, max and exit button on all my forms unless the client >just demands thems! > >I use to use ESC a lot in 6.5. > >I've replaced it with a choice and enter in 7.1 and above! > >Hope this helps! > > >Best Regards, > > >Oma Cox >O.C. Services Inc. >P.O. Box 5485 >Brandon, MS 39047 > >662.820.7599 >601.992.6785 > >www.ocservicesinc.com > >-----Original Message----- >From: [email protected] [mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED] On Behalf Of >[EMAIL PROTECTED] >Sent: Sunday, August 26, 2007 11:14 AM >To: RBASE-L Mailing List >Subject: [RBASE-L] - Variable fields in a form 6.5 vs 7.6 > >Hi all, >I am trying to upgrade an application from version 6.5 Windows to 7.6 >windows. In version 6.5, I have a form which just collects data for a single >variable. After enter the data into the field, I can just hit the escape >key, exit the form and the value of the variable is whatever I typed into >the field. > >In version 7.6 the form acts differently. Since I only have 1 field in the >form, I can't tab to the next field. If I type in the data into that field, >and hit the essape key, the value of the variable remains null. > >How can I set the value of the variable if I am only using 1 field? Do need >an EEP? If so what would be the commands in the EEP? Is there some property >I can set? Does it matter if I use a variable field, a rich variable fiels >or a variable memo field? (By the way, what is the difference between a Rich >Variable field and a Variable Memo field?? > >Thanks! > >Mike
