Automating the printing process

[lonesomejubilee]

Hi,

I wasn't sure where to stick this post so here goes. I have a DB that must print reports on a daily basis. Sometimes we have to print past reports, etc. I want to automate the whole process. I am a transfer from Access where I could use a pop up calendar and a print button from a query. So far what I can tell is that in order to get the correct day I have to make a button to send the user from the form to the print layout, then have them go into Find Mode to enter the specific day. It seems like a long way around the bend.

The bottom line is that I want the user to be able to push a button and enter a date, hit another button and the print out the correct day's report.

I have tried to find a good pop up calendar but have had little luck.... a lot of them aren't made for FM7 yet, and others have their own annoying things... (a splash screen that goes over FMP's on opening). Is there anyone out there that has a normal pop up calendar (free download) that just works and without their company's logo all over it?

Thanks.

Vandy

[brownees]

Personally, I find pop-up calendars irritating and slow to enter dates. I would set up a script to print a daily report something like the following:

Set a global with the default date

Custom dialog with the global as an input

Validate the output is a valid date in range

Enter Find Mode

Paste global

Perform Find

Sort

Enter Preview Mode [Pause]

Print

[lonesomejubilee]

Hi,

Thanks for the tip, but since I'm a newbie I'm going to need a little help. I understand the global field (a field that applies to all records)... but I don't understand how to make it a custome dialog with the global as an input...... could you please walk me through this?

[brownees]

Try this:

Go to Scripts | Scriptmaker | New to create a script

Insert Current Date[yourGlobal]

Show Custom Dialog[yourGlobal] //enter your global in Input Field

Validate the output is a valid date in range // ignore this for now - you're smart enough to enter a valid date!

Enter Find Mode

Set Field [reportDate;yourGlobal] //reportDate will be whatever field(s) you are using to manually find a set now

Perform Find

Sort // using whatever sort you are using manually now

Enter Preview Mode [Pause]

Print

The above is a bit rough, but will get you started. When you get it working, you can assign the script to a button, and later add error handling. Good luck.