Two ways in - opener and startup script.

[Bekah]

I have one more question if you please. Networked 3 computers directly (2 users and one host). They have Opener file. There are many things which happen at startup. If I put everything in the opener, those things won't fire if I open when the host is opened first, so I need startup script (set auto through File Optns). I have layout change, window size, setting globals, plugin registration and setting of certain preference fields.

How do I combine these beginning settings when there are two ways in which to handle them (2 ways in)? It's like I need my own opening stuff when directly accessing but I can't add the Opener script to startup; and the Opener script needs startup. I think I would cause a perpetual loop of opening steps.

Does my confusion show? Can you help me clear my head a bit on this? I would really appreciate it.

[transpower]

So, why not ask in the opener script whether or not you want to open the host (remotely connect to the host)? If you don't, then only the startup items for the user computer are done.

[Bekah]

Hello and thank you. I think I might understand. My Opener doesn't open remote, just performs external subscript in main file. It works and I hate to mess with it too much. But I think you might be suggesting something like:

Opener file script asks "Do you want to open as guest?" and if yes, performs subscript. If no, it 'Opens' main file directly. Oh. I still don't see it; because if opened directly, even from Opener it would miss the opener script stuff. Can you explain a bit more for someone un-FM-educated, such as myself?

[Bekah]

I created two demo files to practice. I thought the main file wasn't opening because it didn't display in Window menu. But when I add a select window to the main file - there it is!!!

This is a major discovery for me - I think FM may be opening my main test file when I perform the external in the Opener - but it just doesn't show anywhere because it has no window in which to display itself. Is this true?

Doesn't FM or Windows show anywhere if another FM file is open, even if it isn't displayed in a window? Geez ... I feel like a dummy, but I need to understand this. If this is true, my Opener script in main should include a Select Window and nothing more. The remainder of my startup should reside within a Startup script, which is activated automatically when the file opens by setting it in File Options.

Windows ... such a little thing can cause so much grief. Is my thinking finally correct on this? I appreciate your help.

[Fenton]

It is partly because in version 7 a window does not automatically come to the front when you call an external script in its file/table (or use Go To Related Record), which is as it should be. So you can add a step, "Select Window [ CurrentWindow ]" in the main file, at the end of whatever script you're calling. Or you can select the window by name from Opener. But I prefer the former, less prone to break if you should change the window name later.

[Bekah]

That's it, Fenton yes! Such a silly thing, but I didn't think main was opening. Never seen a program be open but not show itself. Very strange indeed. FM is going to take some getting used to, I think. It appears smarter than I am.

From now on when I have a problem, I'm going to create very tiny test file and narrow down what I'm missing. I wasted 20+ hours on this problem but I saw it within 10 minutes after I created my tests. I just couldn't believe what I was seeing it do, that's all. Thank you.

Ya see ... I read the Opener would open the main file but it didn't (or so I thought). So I've been having everyone be sure the main file is opened directly before they run their openers. See why I was so confused?!