--- mark mitchell <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > Hi Jan, > Thanks for reiterating all the bases you're > covering. I thought it > might be something like that. It's amazing how > difficult it is to > develop for the 'widest' user-base, isn't it? I did > accomplish > something similar to what you are doing using the > starter-kit before > though. To restrict data input to a highly specific > format, I usually > use a special "data input field" and lock the > display field (if there is > one). In other words, I check the input afterwards, > to make sure the > format is correct, prior to doing any calculations > etc. For example, > the 5 script lines in this data-input field I think > address all of the > extra points you mentioned: > > on returnInField > > replace "," with "" in me > if me is a number then -- bad English, even for a > Texan > put return & me after field mDisplay -- or perform > any calculations here > else > answer "wrong format idiot" > end if > put "" into me -- or hide me or whatever > > end returnInField > > Of course, your script is much cooler and more > complete and far more > user-friendly, but the above will work pretty well > for programmers with > starter-kits or ADD (;-) > > best, > mark >
Hi Mark, Post-validation works perfectly fine in a lot of cases (and you're pretty much stuck with it in web-forms which is yet another reason for me to dislike those things), but I come from a typical database background, where data format is very important, combined with a business application background, where time-loss due to personal errors must be kept to a minimum. Hence all the work on preventing errors at the root of the problem (yes, you get a beep if you try and type a 'b' in a numeric field, makes sense, doesn't it?). Especially as we've decided to adopt RunRev as our new development environment to replace FoxPro and Omnis -- users of exisiting applications should feel 'at home' in the new versions while enjoying the new bits we're adding. And in order to keep the maintenance time down, I try and include things like frontScript and backScript facilities whenever I get the chance. I have to admit I was a bit sceptic at first : "what on earth is that? isn't 'start using' enough?" but in situations like these, they really shine. And after the numeric fields, date fields and other special-format fields (think "X-999-XXX/999") are in the works, and will be made available through the user contributions in a Template Fields stack when I get it all finished. Best regards, Jan Schenkel. ===== "As we grow older, we grow both wiser and more foolish at the same time." (La Rochefoucauld) __________________________________________________ Do you Yahoo!? Faith Hill - Exclusive Performances, Videos & More http://faith.yahoo.com _______________________________________________ use-revolution mailing list [EMAIL PROTECTED] http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-revolution
