Find Mode Graphic display???

[vr5150]

We have been having a problem with employees using the find mode to enter data in instead of browse. Now we all know that in find mode you cant enter data so to say the least you can go to all the layouts via scripts and it will make you think you have completey entered all information when you havent.

Now is there a way to create a field that shows a graphic when in find mode?

I tried status(current mode) but that did not show it in find mode.

This problems has happened with just about every employee. They sometimes look up a customers via find mode and then sometimes they dont leave it.

Any help would be great thanks!!!

[BobWeaver]

You have to make the calculation unstored. Even then it won't work quite as expected. It will correctly display 0 in Browse mode, but will not display anything in find mode. However, you can still make use of this.

Create a global container field with two repetitions. Call it gColors. Put a white filled rectangle into repetition 1, and leave the second repetition empty. Next, create an unstored calculation field with a result type of container and this formula:

GetRepetition(gColors,Status(Currentmode)+1)

Put a copy of this field on your layout. Size it to fill the whole layout, and send it to the back. Make its fill color red or something else that stands out. Format the graphic to enlarge and un-check the 'Maintain original proportions' box. Format the field to not allow entry.

Now, if I haven't forgotten anything, when the user is in browse mode, the layout will have a white background (or whatever color you placed in the repeating global field). When in find mode, the background color will change to red.

[kenneth2k1]

Hello!

Well, if the users are searching records, they will be in Find Mode, when the search is executed, the results are displayed in Browse Mode. So they could not have been been left in Find Mode after searching the database. Rather, it sounds more like they are going into Find Mode when they are not actively searching. Then if they enter a new record, they forget they are in find mode.

Status(Current Mode) returns a 0 in browse mode, 1 in find mode and 2 in preview mode. This might prove useful in a new record script. Personally, I have a new record button that runs a script. It does these things:

1. Go to a new record data entry layout

2. executes the new record step

You could make a new record button and attach a script to it:

If [status(CurrentMode) = 1]

Enter Browse Mode

New Record/Request

Else

New Record/Request

End If

Then you can instruct your users to only use the new record button you created. But this all depends on your setup.

Ken

[kenneth2k1]

Sorry. By the time I had posted my reply, you had already responded. Your suggestion is smart.

Ken

[mgeorge]

I had a similar problem with one of my FileMaker Server projects - about 6 users would from time to time enter data in Find mode thinking they were in Browse mode. I fixed the problem by creating a find/search layout similar in structure to the edit/browse layout. They could only do a find by selecting a button that called a script to this page. When the search concluded it would take them back to the edit/browse layout. Each layout displayed a banner indicated which mode they were in.

Mike

PS. I don't think the globals will work in a server based solution.

[BobWeaver]

If you mean the global container field, it will work in multi-user mode since the contents of the field are never changed once everything has been set up.

On the other hand, your method using a scripted find with different layouts, although requiring a bit more work, is a more secure solution to the problem.

[mgeorge]

Your right about the globals. That's what I get for not reading your original reply correctly.

Mike