Closing Windows in Runtime Solutions

[DanBrill]

Looking through the forum I don't see anything on this, so I hope this hasn't been addressed before.

With FM7 we can have multiple windows per file. I love this, and use it a lot. But once compiled into a Windows runtime, there doesn't seem to be a way to get the window to close! The only way to close the window is to close the application. Hence, all the popup windows are left cluttering up the desktop.

Is there an easy fix for this, or will I need to create a 'close window' button on each layout that can come up as a popup?

Thanks for any insight.

Dan

[transpower]

Use the Exit Application script step.

[Vaughan]

I haven't used a runtime yet, but the way I'd manage this in normal FMP 7 would be to keep a track of all the windows that are created by strictly controlling their names. Then you can check to see if they are open and close them is necessary.

This assumes that kiosked windows in FMP have names just like normal windows.

[T-Square]

I have set up my applications to strictly manage the creation and destruction of windows. For each layout, I have an open and close strategy, which I manage using scripts. It's more work, but you're sure of where you are in the application. Plus, you can resize your windows and handle other aspects of the interface--like the status bar.

The main thing I have found I have to watch out for is to keep track of when I need to close a window, and when I am simply changing layouts.

In FM7, I have been able to control all the window management with just a few scripts that parse a passed script parameter and behave accordingly. Then I assign my button to the one script, with a parameter telling FM what to do vis a vis the windows.

[DanBrill]

Thanks, guys. I wouldn't use the exit application step as that will close the whole program. I just want to close one window. I want the user to have the option of several windows floating around. So I've stuck a 'close window' button on each layout -- the usual white X on the red background that is in the upper right corner of a Windows window. It looks a bit awkward to see two of them there just a cm apart -- one that works and one that doesn't -- but it works and readily conveys what the button does.

Thanks for the suggestions.

Dan

[tedsteel]

In FM 7 there is the option to "Open Hidden" for related files. It is important to add steps to your opening script that opens all files (tables) hidden. Unlike previous versions, FM 7 will not open a related file/table until it is called for an operation. If you try to delete records in the master file before opening related files (hidden) then the application will freeze.

With previous runtime versions you have to use the close window script step and the file will be visible on the bottom of the screen. Incidentally, this is not the case with Mac, only Windows.