Javier Ah, I see the issue.
Frankly, what I'm missing here is this. Most of my users are not sophisticated enough to understand how to build queries on the fly like you're talking about. If they are, they quickly learn to do it at the R> prompt. Why must it be run from an application? Why not have a password protected menu item that sends them back to the R> prompt and a hot key mapped to "RUN RBASE.DAT" to take them back into the menu when done? David Blocker ----- Original Message ----- From: "Javier Valencia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 12:48 PM Subject: RE: Views and Layout David: I use a program that does essentially the same thing as what yours does, in fact, when this issue came up a while back, you were kind enough to send me a copy of yours from which I "borrowed" some of the error checking features; however it has big drawbacks such as: It will select only from one existing table or view, it will not allow you to create a multi-file view on the fly Once you select you fields, condition and sort order and display the data using the browser, you cannot go back to the query screen to make changes (from within an application that does not display the R:Base icons at the top). The beauty of the QUERY capability of DOS is that it allows you to gradually build you query by going back and forth between the QUERY and the BROWSE screens (CTRL F3 and F2 keys), adding and subtracting tables and fields and changing links and conditions and testing the results. I understand that many application have a set of "canned queries" based on pre-set views, and the application that I have developed has a fair number of those; however, it also requires and ad-hoc query processor as the queries are so varied that it would require hundreds and hundreds of pre-set views. All I am asking is for an option on the BROWSE screen to go back to the query screen and back. As I indicated, Mike Willochell came up with a solution, but it is somewhat clumsy when compared to the simplicity that users expect from a Windows based application. The whole idea of moving to Windows was to use the point-and-click features rather than have to remember Function Keys. Javier Valencia, PE President Valencia Technology Group, L.L.C. 14315 S. Twilight Ln., Suite #14 Olathe, KS 66062-4571 (913)829-0888 (913)649-2904 FAX -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-rbase-l@;sonetmail.com]On Behalf Of David M. Blocker Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 2:00 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Views and Layout Javier Much of what I understand you're trying to do with Browse in Windows can be done but not by using the "built in" features of R:Base, rather by taking advantage of the huge power of the CHOOSE command. Try the code below (attachments I gather don't do well in this list), which generally is part of the R:Base advanced book I teach with. Enjoy and tell me if it does what you're looking for. David Blocker *(********************************************************** ** FILENAME: ANYDB.RMD ** ** CREATED BY: David Blocker ** ** PURPOSE: Demonstrate how automatic # options with ** ** CHOOSE allow you to create an all purpose ** ** query option off of your menu system. ** ** ** ** Uses CHOOSE .. CHKBOX, CHKSORT ** ** CALLED BY: Any application or R> prompt ** ** CALLS: Returns ** ** LAST UPDATE: 01/15/98 ** ** 07/2000: for 6.5 Windows by DB ** ***********************************************************) *(Come back here to start again) LABEL TOP SET MESS OFF -- Part 1: Pick a database SET COLOR FORE BLACK SET COLOR BACK GRAY CLS CHOOSE VDB FROM #DATABASES AT 10 5 -- User wants out IF VDB = '[ESC]' OR VDB IS NULL THEN GOTO BOTT ENDIF -- Connnect database and display choice at top of screen CONNECT &VDB CLS WRITE 'DATABASE:' AT 1 3 WRITE .VDB AT 1 25 -- Popup alone is not enough info; need directions on top: -- choose a table/view WRITE 'Select a table or view from database' AT 3 5 CHOOSE VTAB FROM #TBLVIEWS AT 10 5 LINES 12 -- User pressed [ESC]; start over IF VTAB = '[ESC]' OR VTAB IS NULL THEN; GOTO TOP; ENDIF -- Display table selected below database CLS FROM 3 WRITE 'TABLE/VIEW:' AT 2 3 WRITE .VTAB AT 2 25 WRITE 'Select categories to view; Mark/unmark with [Space] / mouse, OK when done + ' AT 4 5 -- Note you no longer need to create the columns menu -- on the fly CHOOSE VCOLS FROM #COLUMNS IN .VTAB AT 10 5 + CHKBOX LINES 12 -- User pressed [ESC]; start over; NOTE BUG!!! If you press -- [F2] without first marking a table, R:BASE shows the -- variable as NULL, but VCOLS IS NULL evaluates as NOT -- true! So does VCOLS = '-0-'; only the following works! -- This true for CHKBOX and CHKSORT menus. IF VCOLS = '[ESC]' OR VCOLS LIKE '-%' THEN GOTO TOP ENDIF -- Display columns selected and prompt for sort order CLS FROM 4 WRITE 'CATEGORIES SELECTED:' AT 3 3 WRITE .VCOLS AT 3 25 -- Note this menu no longer needs to be created on the -- fly as well WRITE 'Pick sort order; mark field(s) to sort by with + mouse/[Space], OK when done' at 5 5 -- BUG NOTE in 6.5: if you do NOT use a CAPTION in a -- "CHOOSE .. FROM #COLUMNS" command, R:Base places garbage -- characters in the caption CHOOSE VORDER FROM #COLUMNS IN .VTAB AT 12 5 + CHKSORT CAPTION ' ' LINES 12 -- Show sort order and prompt for WHERE clause CLS FROM 5 WRITE 'ROWS ORDERED BY:' AT 4 3 -- User might not want sorting; display appropriate -- message; SEE BUG NOTE ABOVE IF VORDER IS NULL OR VORDER LIKE '-%' + OR VORDER = '[ESC]' THEN WRITE 'Original order' AT 4 25 ELSE WRITE .VORDER AT 4 23 ENDIF CHOOSE VWHER FROM #WHERE IN &VTAB -- Display final command; any key to start. CLS FROM 6 WRITE 'CONDITIONS: ' AT 5 3 IF VWHER = '[ESC]' OR VWHER IS NULL THEN WRITE 'All rows' AT 5 25 ELSE WRITE .VWHER AT 5 25 ENDIF PAUSE 1 USING 'Press any key to view this data; [Esc] + when done.' AT 10 10 -- 4 possible commands to build: no sort or where; no sort; -- no where; all parts present. NOTE USE OF & before each -- part. This is REQUIRED in R:BASE 3.x when you replace -- part of a command with a variable IF VORDER IS NULL OR VORDER LIKE '-%' OR + VORDER = '[ESC]' THEN IF VWHER = '[ESC]' OR VWHER IS NULL THEN BROWSE &VCOLS FROM &VTAB ELSE BROWSE &VCOLS FROM &VTAB &VWHER NOCHG ENDIF ELSE IF VWHER = '[ESC]' OR VWHER IS NULL THEN BROWSE &VCOLS FROM &VTAB ORDER BY &VORDER NOCHG ELSE BROWSE &VCOLS FROM &VTAB ORDER BY &VORDER &VWHER NOCHG ENDIF ENDIF -- Must remaximize screen: R:Base makes it normal size after -- leaving the BROWSE screen! MAXIMIZE -- Do you want to do it again? Yes is a default. SET VAR VYN = 'Yes' DIALOG 'Make another query? ' vYN vKey YES IF VYN = 'Yes' and vKey <> '[Esc]' THEN GOTO TOP ENDIF LABEL BOTT SET MESS ON CLE VAR VDB,VTAB,VCOLS,VORDER,VWHER,VYN,vKey,vendkey,+ vMovie1,vversion,vwalkon CONNECT yourdefaultdb RETURN ----- Original Message ----- From: "Javier Valencia" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Sunday, November 10, 2002 3:25 AM Subject: RE: Views and Layout Alastair and Claudine: I concur wholly with your evaluation. The query functionality that we had in DOS is not in available in Windows. There is no simple way, from within an application, to switch from the browser screen to the query screen like you could in DOS (CTRL F3). In Windows, you have to build your query and once you execute the command, there is no way to get back to the QUERY screen to make changes such as add (or subtract) tables and/or columns, create new links or change the selection criteria. I always thought that this was one of the best features of R:Base, as it gave the user unlimited multi-table query capabilities from within an application, this in addition to the problems that you pointed out. Mike Willochell at RBTI came up with a kludged workaround, but is too complicated to put in an application. The other command that I used extensively in DOS was the PROMPT command; with this command you could simplify programming dramatically, it is too bad that it is not available in Windows. If nothing else, it was an great teaching aid when training new users. Last but definitely not least, unless you want to use Adobe Distiller, there is no way to store the results of a standard report to a file as you loose all formatting; luckily, we will be getting this capability back in 7.0 Again, RBTI as done an excellent job in trying to accommodate all users requests, and, who knows, maybe 7.0 will give us this functionality back. All things considered, I believe that switching to Windows was the right decision, since the upgrade to 7.0 should be (hopefully) a snap. Javier Valencia, PE President Valencia Technology Group, L.L.C. 14315 S. Twilight Ln., Suite #14 Olathe, KS 66062-4571 (913)829-0888 (913)649-2904 FAX -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-rbase-l@;sonetmail.com]On Behalf Of Alastair Burr Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 4:15 PM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Views and Layout Claudine, Convert - yes, definitely! But I thought that everything in DOS was supposed to available in Windows - that's partly what sold me and it's not true. That's NOT to say that RBWin is no good - there is a lot going for it and, on balance, I'd go for RBWin every time but I do miss the DOS browser, its simplicity and its ability to do what it says it does. I don't know if v7 will fix it but at the moment the screen layout is not saved properly and you can't - at least, I haven't found the way - to build a query like you could in DOS - it can be done but it's more complicated or involved. RBTI say that it works as it's meant to but my argument is that what it's meant to do is wrong (different) and not as good as it was in DOS!! But, as you see, there are ways around... Set soapbox off - for a while <g> and I'll try to stop swearing, I promise! Regards, Alastair. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Claudine Robbins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 2:00 PM Subject: RE: Views and Layout Alastair, thanks for opening my eyes to the simplicity of the answer. One SELECT to create all the fields in the view, one BROWSE field-w to put them on the screen. Sorta like the Texas two-step. It works like a charm. I'll still submit it to RDCC as an improvement to the view creation SELECT. Et plus de jurons en francais! (no more swearing in French). Going back to DOS?, I thought you were a convert to 7.0 like the rest of us <g>... ~Claudine :) -----Original Message----- From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] [mailto:owner-rbase-l@;sonetmail.com] On Behalf Of Alastair Burr Sent: Saturday, November 09, 2002 2:52 AM To: [EMAIL PROTECTED] Subject: Re: Views and Layout Claudine, You might try going back to the DOS version because the Windows browser/editor isn't a patch on the older one. I've been trying for well over a year - ever since I upgraded to RBWIN - to get the missing functionality in the Windows browser that the DOS one had but swearing in English, pounding my head on the desk, or anything else has failed miserably. That said, can you not try something like this: browse col1=1=10, col2=1=20, col3=1=30 from tablename where idnum in (select idnum from yourview) I hope that you have more luck than I've had, Regards, Alastair. ----- Original Message ----- From: "Claudine Robbins" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> To: <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> Sent: Friday, November 08, 2002 10:34 PM Subject: Views and Layout I have created a view which would fit perfectly in my browser screen if I was allowed to specify the width of each column as in a normal select (SELECT field1=10, field2=40, etc...). Using LAYOUT on, and formatting the browser columns apparently only works with tables (and then only when all fields in the table are included, although they can be squeezed to appear gone). Changing the default browser font, functions such as CTR and STRIM and pounding my hand on the desk while cussing in French don't work either! If no one else knows of a workaround, I think I'll submit this to RDCC as a desirable improvement in the next release. ~Claudine ☺ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/ ================================================ TO SEE MESSAGE POSTING GUIDELINES: Send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: INTRO rbase-l ================================================ TO UNSUBSCRIBE: send a plain text email to [EMAIL PROTECTED] In the message body, put just two words: UNSUBSCRIBE rbase-l ================================================ TO SEARCH ARCHIVES: http://www.mail-archive.com/rbase-l%40sonetmail.com/
