Format field to get default as regional setting

[Anh_Tran]

Dear All,

I got a big problem about Regional setting ...since i am in Montreal so I have to deal with English and French ...

When I format the field date as YYYY-MM-DD and set regional setting as English (canadian) I got date weird like 20-10-2002 not as 2002-10-20 and the dcimal is point (.)

When i set regional setting as French (canadian) I got weird date but the decimal is comma (,)

I really don't understand at all ...I think that when we format a field is what we format is what we got but not true ...we see different with what we got

For example, when i click at the field date I see as dd-mm-yyyy

but when i click out of the field date I see as yyyy-mm-dd ....why is that happen? You guys have that problems before?

Could you help me about this ...this is about system or setting problem ...I really try many machines but don't get to the point

Thanks

[CobaltSky]

When you click into a field, you see the data in the default formats defined for the file. When you click out of the field, you see the data in the field formats that have been applied to the field on the current layout.

The default formats defined for the file are generated and 'embedded' in the file in line with the systems settings that are in place on the computer the file was created on at the time it was created.

If you want to change the defaults, you have to save the file as a clone (which recreates it with embedded default settings taken from the computer you're making the clone on). The you will need to re-import the records into the clone.

If you don't want to go through the above process to permanently alter a file's default settings, you can allow temporary data entry in alternate formats by using the "Use System Formats" command (or the equivalent script step) but that is only applicable for the current session - when the file is closed and re-opened, the defaults will be reinstated.

[Anh_Tran]

Dear Cobaltsky,

You make my day ...I kind of understand it well ...Sorry to bother you one more time even I know you are very busy.

What I am supposed to do is to save the file as clone and reimport data to the clone.

To change the default formats defined in the file ...I have to set up at regional setting? or I have to format the field?

System setting u mean set up at regional setting, is it right?

Can you show me step by step ? since I want to get it really clear for next time.

Thanks

[Anh_Tran]

Before I put on the host ...it works fine as decimal ...but after i put the file on the host ...it accepts only comma ..

I am really sick of it ....Do you have any idea about it? ..where is the error coming from?

Thanks

[Anh_Tran]

System format is on for each file or only at the beginning of a master file and go through children files?

Some people can help me with this?

Thanks

[CobaltSky]

For a temporary solution on a particular machine, and for the current session only (ie until the file/s are closed and re-opened) Format>Use System Formats has to be called on a file-by-file basis.

The more permanent solution I referred to results in a file's defauls changing to match the settings which are in place at operating system level on the computer/workstartion on which the clone was made. These settings are called different things and set up slightly differently on different platforms and operating systems/versions. They are called 'Regional settings' on some systems.

Once this has been done, the Use System Formats command will not be required (nor available on the menus) when the file is opened on that computer or any other with matching system defaults. Howver it will be required on any computers that the file is opened on that have different settings.

1. The first thing to do is to check the settings on the computer/s you want the file to run on

2. If you want the file to match the server settins, generate the clone on the server

3. After generating the clone and reimporting the data, load the file on the server

4. Check the file from remote workstations.

5. If there are any workstations where the 'Use System Formats' command is visible (and ont greyed out) on the menus, then check the system settings on those computers.

6. If appropriate, change all workstation system settings to match the server.

7. If any workstations are required to remain set up differntly to the server, consider placing the 'Use System Formats' script step into each file and calling it when the file is opened (eg in a start-up script, or as a sub-script from the file which opens it- eg an opener file).

Once you've done all of the above, you should have restored an oasis of 'normality' within your local server/workstation group.