Auto event or auto starting script.

Bill Steele wrote:
> In article
> ,
> leon.obers DeleteThis @iae.nl wrote:
>
>> FM 8
>> Windows
>>
>>
>> Hello,
>> I am building a database using barcode input.
>> After filling in the field using barcode, it ends with a carriage
>> return and by the tab order, the next place of the cursor is at a
>> button. By a manual carriage return of that active button, the input
>> of the barcode is processed within the system by the script under that
>> button.
>>
>> What I want to do is an automatic start of the script after the data
>> in the field is given by barcode.
>> So without the manual interaction to hit to a carriage return (Enter).
>> How to manage this?

The way I do this is that the barcode reader itself sends an Enter key
after the code, resuming the script. So it's a matter of configuring the
scanner itself.

>>
>> One of the possibilities I think of is using "QuicKeys"
>> http://www.cesoft.com/products/qkw.html
>>
>> But if the possibilities are there to start a script automatically
>> when the curser met a button or a second field after the first input
>> by barcode is placed, I like that way better.
>>
>> Someone else have some thoughts?

>>
>> Regards, Léon Obers
>
> Look into the EventScript plug-in.

Yes. With Filemaerk 10, you could use the new script trigers, but for
earlier versions, you need a third-party plug-in such as Events or
zippScript (both free, I think).

I use zippScript myself, and even though I'm sure than Filemaker 10
native capabilities are more elegand and flexible, it allows a script to
be triggered when a field is modified for instance.

HTH

Marc-André
>
> However, there's something to be said for letting people review what's
> been entered before processing it.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 14 feb, 05:17, MAP wrote:
> Bill Steele wrote:
>>  leon.ob...@iae.nl wrote:

>>> After filling in the field using barcode, it ends with a carriage
>>> return and by the tab order, the next place of the cursor is at a
>>> button.

>>> What I want to do is an automatic start of the script after the data
>>> in the field is given by barcode.
>>> So without the manual interaction to hit to a carriage return (Enter).
>>> How to manage this?

> The way I do this is that the barcode reader itself sends an Enter key
> after the code, resuming the script. So it's a matter of configuring the
> scanner itself.

Yes, but what I wrote in my first message is that the barcode reader
is giving an enter-code already after the numbers, performing the
cursor to go to the next place of the tab-order, a button or a field.
So maybe I have to set a double enter-code. But in that case in other
situations I come into troubles.

But I am testing now another work-around.

> I use zippScript myself, and even though I'm sure than Filemaker 10
> native capabilities are more elegand and flexible, it allows a script to
> be triggered when a field is modified for instance.

For this plug-in information. Thank you, also something to test.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 14 feb, 21:34, "Your Name" wrote:
> wrote in message

> but
> normally you would have the user click a button to start the scanning
> process via a Script which pauses waiting for input in a barcode Field. The
> user can then scan a barcode with a Carriage Return sent on the end, this
> causes FileMaker to enter the barcode in the Field and then resume the
> Script. The Script loops around to pause for another barcode (creating a new
> record if necessary). The loop keeps going until the user clicks a "Stop"
> button or scans a barcode with a value of "0" or similar.
>
> Helpful Harry  )

Well thank you Harry.
You bring me to other possibilities that I didn’t thought off yet.
In other situations in output and printing I typically am using
scripts with pause. Afterwards going back to normal use and a main
starting page within the same script.
It should be possible to use this work around for my situation for
input of data, so you get a “loop” in work around within the same
script. The “middle part” of the script is the intervention to scan
barcode .
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

leon.obers RemoveThis @iae.nl wrote:
> On 14 feb, 05:17, MAP wrote:
>> Bill Steele wrote:
>>> leon.ob... RemoveThis @iae.nl wrote:
>
>>>> After filling in the field using barcode, it ends with a carriage
>>>> return and by the tab order, the next place of the cursor is at a
>>>> button.
>
>>>> What I want to do is an automatic start of the script after the data
>>>> in the field is given by barcode.
>>>> So without the manual interaction to hit to a carriage return (Enter).
>>>> How to manage this?
>
>> The way I do this is that the barcode reader itself sends an Enter key
>> after the code, resuming the script. So it's a matter of configuring the
>> scanner itself.
>
> Yes, but what I wrote in my first message is that the barcode reader
> is giving an enter-code already after the numbers, performing the
> cursor to go to the next place of the tab-order, a button or a field.
> So maybe I have to set a double enter-code. But in that case in other
> situations I come into troubles.
>

Right, you already have the scanner sending an enter code, thus moving
the cursor to the next object in the tab order. But it should rather
resume a looping script, as described by Harry. Also, I don't remember
the specifics, but I think there is a difference between sending the
carrige return and the enter key for resuming the script. I remember
having to enable keypad emulation in the scanner settings to send the
enter key.


> But I am testing now another work-around.
>
>> I use zippScript myself, and even though I'm sure than Filemaker 10
>> native capabilities are more elegand and flexible, it allows a script to
>> be triggered when a field is modified for instance.
>
> For this plug-in information. Thank you, also something to test.
>
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

wrote in message

>
> Yes, but what I wrote in my first message is that the barcode reader
> is giving an enter-code already after the numbers, performing the
> cursor to go to the next place of the tab-order, a button or a field.
> So maybe I have to set a double enter-code. But in that case in other
> situations I come into troubles.
>
> But I am testing now another work-around.

It depends on what you're scanning and what the data is being used for, but
normally you would have the user click a button to start the scanning
process via a Script which pauses waiting for input in a barcode Field. The
user can then scan a barcode with a Carriage Return sent on the end, this
causes FileMaker to enter the barcode in the Field and then resume the
Script. The Script loops around to pause for another barcode (creating a new
record if necessary). The loop keeps going until the user clicks a "Stop"
button or scans a barcode with a value of "0" or similar.

Helpful Harry )
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 14 feb, 05:17, MAP wrote:

> I use zippScript myself, and even though I'm sure than Filemaker 10
> native capabilities are more elegand and flexible, it allows a script to
> be triggered when a field is modified for instance.


In between time I tested a ZippScript alike plugin, because the
ZippScript Plugin is not available anymore (for free).
http://www.filemakermagazine.com/plugins/zippscript.html

The free alternative:
http://myfmbutler.com/index.lasso?p=416

I got it work quite easy, but it didn't bring me the results as hoped
quite well. Also I met disadvantages of this approach. The main
disadvantage is when you set a field to start an event after exit the
field, this behaviour is set for all layouts and work around in the
entire database for that field. You can avoid it by making “switches”
to let work the script only under certain conditions, but this is an
annoying solution.

But still a very basic need, is not implemented within this method.
The same in a “loop” solution of a general script with pause in the
middle of the script for manual (barcode) intervention.

Within scripts you only can lead the cursor to go to *fields* and not
to *buttons*, as by using manual I can go to several buttons by “tab”
– “enter” (or use the mouse).
I have to set a “tab” or “enter” code within a script.

I tried by using the “Set variable” script control code, by typing
“Control + tab” as a variable. You don’t see the characters for it.
Afterwards a “square” that these characters are set as a variable, but
it doesn’t work as a “Tab” that a cursor is switching from one field
or button to the other field or button as set by the tab order in a
layout as this part of the script is running.

How to manage to set characters for “tab” – “Cariage return” – “Enter”
in a script to let the cursor go from a field to go to a *button*, as
you can do manually?

The only thing I want to manage is after a work around with an
automatic script, after data is processed I can check the data by
sight and afterwards I can hit a simple “return” ONCE for the next
event of the script under a button. Not that I have to hit a CR
several times by tab-order before I met the right button, or that I
have to pick the mouse and have to trigger the right button manually.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 15 feb, 18:29, leon.ob... RemoveThis @iae.nl wrote:

> How to manage to set characters for “tab” – “Cariage return” – “Enter”
> in a script to let the cursor go from a field to go to a *button*, as
> you can do manually?

Is there a way to write it down in script in hexadecimal way?
What are the right hexadecimal codes for FF (formfeed), Tab, Cariage
Return, Enter.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 15 feb, 18:42, leon.ob....TakeThisOut@iae.nl wrote:

> What are the right hexadecimal codes for FF (formfeed), Tab, Cariage
> Return, Enter.

This part I did found:
http://www.pcguide.com/res/tablesASCII-c.html

But how to implement it as a variable in a script.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

leon.obers DeleteThis @iae.nl wrote:
>
> Within scripts you only can lead the cursor to go to *fields* and not
> to *buttons*, as by using manual I can go to several buttons by “tab”
> – “enter” (or use the mouse).

I'm saying that without verifying, but I think you could name the button
object (in layout mode, you need to use the object info window) and then
use the go to object script step instead of go to field. Or maybe this
feature was implemented in 8.5 ?
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script. 

On 15 feb, 21:50, MAP wrote:
> leon.ob....DeleteThis@iae.nl wrote:
>
> > Within scripts you only can lead the cursor to go to *fields* and not
> > to *buttons*, as by using manual I can go to several buttons by “tab”
> > – “enter” (or use the mouse).
>
> I'm saying that without verifying, but I think you could name the button
> object (in layout mode, you need to use the object info window) and then
> use the go to object script step instead of go to field. Or maybe this
> feature was implemented in 8.5 ?

It seems more object tools are implemented within FM 8.5 when I
checked out the history of different FM versions. Mmm. An upgrade
needed.
Especially because the functions using DoScript do have many flaws.
 >> Stay informed about: Auto event or auto starting script.