Value Lists Problem

[Misho]

Hi All,

I was chasing a weird problem with value lists and managed to extract it from our application to the test.fp7 file attached

Briefly:

1. I create a value list with "Use Values from Field" Option

- The value List contains 2 fields ( first ID and second Name )

- It is ordered by the second field

2. I'm using this value list in a pop-up list field in another table: "Test Tbl"

The problem:

( it is not the end of the world but let me know if it is some known bug )

1. When I type inside the pop-up list field, for some of the letters it jumps straight to the place needed BUT :

2. If you try typing "Q" or "R" it jumps to the last member of the value list which is starting with "T" ( I have members of the value list with Q and R too, but they are skipped )

I have the latest update FM 7.0V3 ( using on MAC OS X 10.3.5 )

I'm mentioning the FM version for I know that FM changed from this update (7.0V3) the value lists behavior, when you start typing in the pop-up field, it jumps by the ordered field ( not by the first field like it was in 7.0 )

Thanks

Any help appreciated like always

Misho

P.S. Who should I ask why it is not allowed to attach .sitx files on the forum ( it will help the mac users )

test.fp7.zip

[-Queue-]

No problems with it on Windows XP SP2. Maybe it's a Mac-only issue.

Post your suggestions in the FM Forums Feedback forum.

[Misho]

Thank You Queue

Is there somebody on MAC that can try it ?

At least it will help me to stop looking for the error in the application or my machines that I did the test.

Misho

[Oldfogey]

I tried it on Win2K. Same weird problem.

I did notice that the font is 'unknown', i.e.blank, but that is probably a Mac/PC problem ... or is it?

[Ugo DI LUCA]

That's weird indeed.

Once the value you're targetting is not directly visible and you'd need to scrowl down to see it, it jumps to the last item. It's not related to P, Q, R or anyother value, it's a "not displayed at opening value get skipped from type-ahead technique" issue.

Add a few values and the behaviour will start even at B.

[Ugo DI LUCA]

When the value isn't straight visible in list when the list opens, it jumps to the last item, but if you re-type "Q" again, it will lead you there.

Basically, it opens the value list completely, then tries to match the index.

May be that's a wanted behaviour, so that the value list gets "loaded"

[Oldfogey]

This gets weirder and weirder. I just re-tried the file to test Ugo's hypothesis.

The one thing that changed was the file; I actually re-unzipped it.

It works fine! I didn't detect any difference regarding the whole list being visible or not. Now I think about it, the new(?) copy opened the list much faster than the old one.

Is it possible that the file is corrupt in some funny way?

[Misho]

Here is attachment with MD5 checksum

Last upload was with unnative for mac .zip now I'm placing .sitx stuffed folder ( yesterday the website sysadmin let this kind of attachments to be uploaded )

Let me know if you managed to unstuff it and check the MD5

The font is helvetica 12 hope it is standard enough

And I think if the list jumps automatically to the end and then it is fully searchable it should happen invisible to the user.

I checked out the application for the hypothesis of Ugo DI LUCA - so if a member of the value list is already selected the list works fine for every incremental typing that is between the start of the list and the selected member. ( I didn't change the original test.fp7 example not to complicate it but you can test for yourself )

...

...

...

...

Steven Black ( selected )

....

....

so for every letter till "R" it's fine - for "S" to "Z" it jumps to the end, after this it works fine for the second letter or if we wait and type again the first letter.

if nothing is selected the value list jumps to the end for every first keystroke and after this it works fine.

Hope this helps

Misho

[Ugo DI LUCA]

Attached is an image of the case.

You'd see the Value list displays 13 values. If the character you enter fall within one of these 13 first displayed value, the type ahead technique will work at the fly.

If not, say you enter a F in this case, which would need you'd scrowl down to make this value visible, FM jumps to the end of list by default. Then, re-entering the letter and the other would work.

Attached a screeshot.

valuelist.zip

[Misho]

So I assume this as a bug and I'll just have to wait to be fixed in the next version/update.

Is there any way to preload the value list because in the original application the value list contains customers ( around 600 ) and people get lost when it jumps to the last contact when you press the first key.

And again Thank You for testing the problem for me

Misho

[Ugo DI LUCA]

A list of 600 clients in a value list :

Try to change for a selection portal which is clean and efficient. You can even filter it or use clairvoyance on it.

There are lots of sampler around, but I remember BusinessTracker.fp7 uses this feature when you select customer or supplier. Go and check. Really !

[Misho]

Thank you for the portal solution

(sorry it took so long time to answer your post)

but I have already the dropdown list and people got used to it. It is not that easy to change it to something completely different they'll have to learn. I think the disadvantages of the portal are that it takes more space and it is more difficult to handle with, compared to a simple drop down list.

Hope I'll have to wait for filemaker to fix this issue in some of the next updates, and I'm definitely looking forward when the time will come for a type ahead shrinking drop down list like many applications can do it.

Also the portals can not be nested so if I'm already in portal I'm stuck.

I saw that a lot of people are using new windows for choosing related data - hope this helps a lot using real IDs ( numeri serial fields hidden from the user).

I'm so happy that everybody replies with useful hints in this forum and there is always workaround of the problem

Thank you for your help

Appreciated !

Misho