Unwanted tab from pop-up calendar

[K1200]

I have a layout on which the only user-changeable field is a date field, which uses the pop-up calendar for entry. The problem is that after clicking on a date, the calendar does not pop back down like it does on other layouts.

These calendars seem to have a need to auto-tab to a next field and on this layout there's not one. I tried several things but an extra click out to the side is always required.

Is there a way to get around this without adding a dummy field just to "catch" the tab action?

Thanks for any help with this.

[Raybaudi]

Yes !

Check the box: include icon to show and hide calendar

[K1200]

Thanks. That worked -- for the calendar part. But it led to a different problem.

Now FMP leaves the field selected (in inverse video), which the user will think is strange since no other fields behave that way.

Is there a way around that, as well? (Removing "select entire contents" did not help.)

[Raybaudi]

You can try this...

1) Uncheck the radio button

2) Make this script (date)

Go to Field [table::dateField]

Pause/Resume Script [duration(seconds):1,5]

Go to Field [ ]

3) Make the dateField a button and attach the script (date) to it

[Raybaudi]

If you ( as I do ) don't like the second example, the last thing to do is to use the EventScript plugin.

This is the simplest way and the best to see.

1) install that plugin

2) make a script (Go) with only one step:

Go to Field [ ]

3) go to the AutoEnter option of the dateField and set the calculated value to:

dateField & S4HU_EventScript( Get(FileName) ; "Go" ; "" );

Remember to uncheck the box: " Do not replace existing value..."

[Razumovsky]

Try unchecking the "Show field frames when record is active" box in Layouts>Layout setup.

Also, you can include a button in the tab order (I am assuming you have navigation buttons or something on the layout).

-Raz

[Raybaudi]

"Also, you can include a button in the tab order "

This is another good way... I make an invisible 1 point button, just to avoid the ugly darkness around the button

[Razumovsky]

I was thinking you could have it tab to the button that would bring you to the next logical layout. Afterall, there has got to be more to the file than a single date field layout.

[Raybaudi]

Yes, that can be made, but I don't like the dark around the button ( if it is a visible button ) that comes on when you Tab into it

[K1200]

Thanks for all the suggestions. I tried three of them -- and a couple of my own. The one-pixel invisible button is probably the best solution for most because of its simplicity.

What I came up with for my layout is to place a second copy of the date field directly behind the original display field but let it be about 20 pixels wider to the right side. Then I gave that field the pop-up calendar (making the first field simply "Edit"). I then built a 20x25 pixel calendar and placed on top where the FMP calendar symbol shows up. As a final step, I confirmed that the two fields were Tabs 1 and 2 on the layout (the only tabs).

The effect is One Click on my calendar symbol followed by One Click on the desired day. The calendar drops down and the cursor goes to the last position on the second field, but the appearance is normal. A hairline black box around the field masks the "selected" state change.

It's going to work well for me. I credit LaRetta for encouraging me to think in "three dimensions" through some layout posts earlier this year. In this instance, I was hoping it was just an option I had overlooked.

Thanks again.