Saving symbolic search criteria

[Mandu]

I'm looking for a method for putting up a search layout, allowing the user to enter the search criteria, hit <return> to run the search, and then be able to re-display the search layout with the most recent search criteria, if the search needs to be refined.

I can do this by using Browse Mode and using Globals on the search layout, but I don't like the fact that, in Browse Mode, the user can't hit <return> to make the script resume.

I'd rather use Find Mode, for that reason alone. This eliminates the possibility of using Globals on the search layout.

Here's what I'm doing currently:

Set global fields to initial (null) values

Loop

-- Go to layout (search form)

-- Enter Find Mode (NO pause)

-- Set fields in search form from the global fields

-- Pause Script /* allow user input */

-- Set global fields from data in search form /* save criteria */

-- Perform Find

-- (Display results of find)

-- Exit loop if user is finished

End loop /* Iterate to redisplay search criteria and allow refinement */

The problem I'm having is that criteria such as "3/1/2005..3/15/2005" for a Date field, or "> 0" for a Number field, can't be retrieved, saved, and restored correctly this way. (These text strings have undergone conversion to Date or Number by the time I can get my hands on them.)

Is there a way to save search criteria for re-use AND retain the functionality of having the <return> key cause the script to proceed?

Gratefully,

Chap

[Vaughan]

"the user can't hit <return> to make the script resume"

That's because <enter> makes scripts resume.

Set Field can only enter data of the correct type into fields... a date range is not a valid date so it won't work. Instead use Insert Calculated Result, but be aware that this script is layout dependent.

IIRC, some time ago Bob Weaver posted a demo file with an impressive find recall system.

[Mandu]

Thank you for pointing me to Bob Weaver's post.

Lots of good stuff there to puzzle through. What I finally realized, though, is that what I needed was nothing but Modify Last Find! (If I'm not mistaken, Bob Weaver's script is mainly about displaying a Find request textually.)

Chap