Hi All,

newbie question # 1

I'm a newbie to OI. Just purchased OI 9.1 and have some questions that I generated going thru documentation, the website and just trying some things.

I will post each as a new topic, so that they can be treated individually.

TIA for helping with your ideas, suggestions and comments.

Running OI 9.1, on a win xp client. The server is a windows 2000 server box, running Unidata, and an application called Manage 2000.

I have not found any programming examples where a field of data, i.e. a shipping code, is looked up and displayed on the screen. I am pretty sure I can do this by creating calculate dictionary items, and may have to do so, but would prefer not to make a bunch of new dictionaries, as I need them, get the attached volume updated, then continue on with development. Is there a way to do the lookup and display programatically?

Same question, different verse…what about doing the lookup for a a multi-valued field, with each value being looked up and displayed?

thanx,

ron

2 types of standard lookups are POPUPs and Indexes. The indexes work best on KEY lookups.

FOr a *code* lookup you will normally use a POPUP.

I understand and have played with the popups a little bit, but that is not exactly what I am looking for.

Let's says that the order table stores the value FEDG, for Fedex Ground shipping. When the form displays FEDG in the shipping service field (which would have a popup associated with it to find the correct shipping method), I would like the same field, or another field to show the full description, 'Fedex Ground'. This way the user can see what the 'code' means, without having to use the popup to discover it there.

Another example of doing this would be customer numbers. We prompt for customer numbers in many places, then display the customer name, or a portion thereof, so the user knows which customer this is for, without having to open the popup.

This process becomes harder, when the field in question holds multiple values. Say a part number is used by 4 customers. The customer number field would store the 4 customer numbers, but the user should be able to see the customer number and the customer name on the form, without opening a popup to look each one up.

 Customer Number     Name

 12345               Fred Flintstone

 23456X              Barney Rubble

 99231               Mr. Magoo

Thanx for your thoughts,

ron

For that then you need a calculated field using xlate to retrieve and then display the value.

Xlate will return multiple values in the lookup process.

I will give this a try. I assume that I can create a calculated field, without having to create a corresponding dictionary definition.

thanx again, DSig

ron

You can also use joined fields see http://www.revsoft.co.uk/downloads/white_papers/multitablewindows.pdf

The Sprezzatura Group

The Sprezzatura Blog

World leaders in all things RevSoft

Thanx. Just found references to these folks this morning in a blog, so I will definitely check out their site.

ron

Hi Ronald,

Bob Carten here. I work for Revelation, have done some of the development work on the U2 connector. I am at Revelation's annual conference this week, giving a talk which includes some examples of client server programming against a U2 database. I'd be happy to Webex with you next week, take a look at what you are trying to accomplish, point you in the correct direction.

Hi Bob,

 I appreciate your offer!

 I am just floundering around right now, trying different things, looking for possible solutions to problems in my current environment, coming up with "what if's", thinking out loud, etc. The more I play, and the more documentation I go thru, the more I can think to ask.

 I am really trying to see if OI will fill some certain needs in my current environment, expand the user interface to make it a better place for my users to work, and not just be a pretty front end to an already working database. Many years ago I had extensive experience using Revelation G, where I could take advantage of the MV database in a pc environment. OI is definitely where I would go if I needed to create something from scratch. The big question is will the time investment for creating a new front end to Unidata pay off in terms of better usability for my users, easier management for me in creating screens, reports and managing printing solutions.

 At your convenience, please call or email, and we can talk. I am certain that your experience will be an eye opener for me.

thanx,

ron

View this thread on the forum...