scrolling checkbox value list

[John Novotny]

I would like my users to populate estimate line items by marking checkboxes from a value list. The problem is the value list contains about 75 items. Is there an easy way to have the functionality of checkboxes but also the scroll bar functionality?

[Søren Dyhr]

You could be excused by inventing such a user interface, Linux and Windows users aren't used to be dictated to a certain coherence ...and developers do often take a pride in challenging their users with guesswork as to how a interface would work

But you might get some ideas by investigating this template, eventhough it's a calender-interface - could other issues be handled similar!

--sd

[John Novotny]

Perhaps I should be more clear. For each estimate (header), there are multiple estimate line items. These line items are made up from standard categories (grading, utilities, plumbing, electrical, mechanical, roofing, ...)that are appropriate for the specific job they are estimating. These are chosen from a list of about 75 standard codes. Once they populate the line items with the appropriate categories, they then need to enter further detail for the category(labor, material, subcontract, equipment, other) There could be multiple occurences of each of the above detail. For instance, for a category "electrical", there could be three entries for material, 1 for subcontract, and 2 for equipment). These detail items are summarized into the line item. The users are used to going down a list of categories and selecting all those that are appropriate, then going into each one and filling in detail.

[Søren Dyhr]

Sorry I forgot to post the link I ment:

http://www.spf-15.com/fmExamples/datePicker.sit

--sd

[Oldsneekers]

How about using a portal list instead of a value list. A button on the portal row would be scripted to populate the desired field(s). Additionally, by having a global field above the portal to be one of (or the only) match field. This would allow the user to select or narrow the listed records. Having the match fields exploded (plumbing= p & paragraph & pl & paragraph & plu & paragraph & plum...)

Good luck.

[Søren Dyhr]

Im absolutely with Oldsneekers and you should also consider Don Wielands tweak to the approach

http://www.dwdataconcepts.com/dl/tw/compinv2.ZIP

...that dispite being made in pre ver. 7 - does it make you to select sets of coherent datalines. It is done via Import's and the good news is that you are abel to import between tables in 7.0 ...so don't hessitate to gather all bases in one file!!

--sd

[transpower]

Instead of long value lists, you could alternatively have a series of layouts with the appropriate check boxes and radio buttons. Previous selections determine the succeeding layouts. Divide the layouts for maximum economy of user effort.

[John Novotny]

Ok, after a little experimentation, I got that to work. (I had multiple portals on the layout and the script step (go to portal row) kept going to the wrong portal...

The problem I see with this is that after the user selects a tracking code and it loads into the line items, in order to select the next code they have to scroll down the list again to find where they left off. Is there an easy way to get FM to go back to the portal list at the same or next row that was just selected?

Here are the script steps I'm currently using.

Set Field [ gTrackCode, All Track Codes::Track Code# ]

Go to Field [ Line Item::Track Code ID# ]

Go to Portal Row

[ First, Select entire contents ]

Loop

If [ Line Item::Track Code ID#="" ]

Set Field [ Line Item::Track Code ID#, gTrackCode ]

Halt Script

Else

Go to Portal Row

[ Next, Select entire contents ]

End If

End Loop

Exit Record/Request

Exit Script

Thanks so much for the help.

[John Novotny]

I figured it out.

Thanks again for the help everyone!