Hi MikeB, Ben and Jim
Great suggestions but I was trying to avoid EEPs.
I use EEPs all over the place and this might get in
the way of my current EEPs.
Maybe RBase could tell if the user pressed ALT F1 or
some other special keys while in a field and that would
display a text file. This would leave the EEPs free for
other uses.
Maybe have a table that holds Form name, field name,
help text, put a button on the form, when clicked it
gets the form name and field name and pops up
help form with the text. Then you could write a report
to make a printed manual. Still would have to retype
or cut and paste the help text into a Windows help
program.
marc
marc
At 10:54 AM 09/05/2001 -0500, you wrote:
>I have done a quick test and the following code works:
>
>Lead in to the form you are calling:
>
>SET KEYMAP [ALT][F1] = '[ENTER]'
> EDIT / ENTER USING SomeForm
> SET KEYMAP [ALT][F1] OFF
> RETURN
>
>Set an Exit EEP using the Following Code:
>
>IF LASTKEY(1) = '[alt][f1]' THEN
> TRACE debug
> SET V vmsg = ('Form: ' & (CVAL('Form_Name')) & +
> ' Field: ' & (CVAL('form_field_name')))
> DIALOG .vmsg vres1 vk1 YES AT 8
> SKIP 0
> ENDIF
> RETURN
>
>Where the dialog command is used, you can use your own imagination.
>Here are a couple of possibilities:
>
>In every case, maintain a subdirectory with your Help files using the
>following naming convention FormName_FieldName.SomeExt where SomeExt would
>be *.txt if you are going to use RBase Pause or Dialog for small help
>descriptions. *.htm If you want to launch explorer. Actually, if you use
>Explorer (I think 5 or above) you can use *.hta for HtmlApplication which
>launches explorer without the menu or toolbar, but if you are going to use
>explorer, you will have to utilize html to get it to display the way you
>want.
>
>You can pass the values into a VBscript and use the POPUP message which will
>give you a formatted display to the extent that it will preserve CrLf in
>your text files.
>
>mike
>
>
>
>
>
>----- Original Message -----
>From: "marc" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]>
>Sent: Wednesday, September 05, 2001 8:12 AM
>Subject: Re: One step help system - Razzak's Reply
>
>
> > Hi Dr R>
> >
> > I can't make the conference, I have to go to a CE seminar.
> > I was hoping you could just type the help messages in
> > RBase for each form and field then have RBase export
> > the help messages to some sort of Windows help
> > program. Then we wouldn't have to type things twice.
> >
> > I always wished the field messages could be bigger,
> > maybe show the normal one line but if the user pressed
> > some key a box would be displayed with 4-6 lines of help.
> > This way the user would have expanded help for the field
> > they were on, instead of the full help manual and searching
> > for what they wanted. And my dream grew from there.
> >
> > thanks
> > marc
> >
> >
> > >First off, if you are planning to attend 2001 R:BASE Developers'
> > >Conference in October, you'll have the opportunity to attend a
> > >session on "Creating Your Own Help and Manuals".
> > >
> > >... How to create Windows HLP and HTML Help Files to distribute
> > >with your applications ...
> > >
> > >The same authoring tools were used to create new HELP files for
> > >R:Style 2000 (ver 6.5++) and R:Code 2000 (ver 6.5++), shipped
> > >with R:BASE 2000 (version 6.5++).
> > >
> > >Having said that, there are many HELP Authoring Tools out there
> > >to let you create your own customized HELP System and Manual. As
> > >long as you call it RBG.HLP, you'll have no problem when pressing
> > >F1 key to bring up your customized help System and Manual.
> > >
> > >If you want to call it something else, such as MyDream.HLP, then
> > >you can take advantage of the new LAUNCH command in The Glorious
> > >R:BASE 2000 (ver 6.5++).
> > >
> > >Example:
> > >
> > >In a command file or in an EEP (Push Button):
> > >
> > >LAUNCH MyDream.HLP
> > >
> > >OR
> > >
> > >LAUNCH C:\HelpFile\MyDream.HLP
> > >
> > >There you have it ...
> > >
> > >Very Best Regards,
> > >
> > >Razzak.
> > >
> > >
> > >===================================-============================
> > >Official R:BASE List Server: mailto:[EMAIL PROTECTED]
> > >RBTI Events/Training: http://www.rbase2000.com/events
> > >R:DCC Members: http://www.rbase2000.com/rdcc
> > >================================================================
> > >R:BASE, Oterro & R:Tango are registered trademarks of RBTI.
> > >==================================-=============================
> >
> >
> > _________________________________________________________
> > Do You Yahoo!?
> > Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
> >
> >
_________________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Get your free @yahoo.com address at http://mail.yahoo.com
