Resizing Custom Dialog box

[Matt Klein]

Does anyone know a way to control the size of the dialog box that is generated by the Show Custom Dialog box script step? Or at least to make it so that it shows all text without the user having to click and drag to expand it?

I know that it remembers it's size from the last time it was closed, but that is a workstation/user specific preference and if I expand it on one workstation it doesn't have an effect on the other workstations.

[ThatOneGuy]

Hi Matt:

I'm glad you asked that question. I don't have an answer, but I'm glad you asked in hopes someone, somewhere knows something (sans plug-in).

It's a frustrating, little pest of a problem. (One user said my dialogs were too wordy. Huh? Me, wordy? Can you believe that?) The default size of a custom dialog box allows for only a handful of lines. Once we add in some pilcrows to make a message more readable, we've used up the default space. And I think the default space is even more limited on the Windows platform where the dialog box has a larger "header" portion, if I recall correctly.

Short of creating our own dialog layouts, I just haven't had any luck solving this problem.

I sure hope you get some responses/ideas.

[Matt Klein]

It's been an annoyance for me for a longtime. I just now decided to ask the question. I am glad I am not the only one who finds it problematic that the dialog box doesn't adjust to fit all the text in it.

You made the point of saying "sans plug-in". Are you aware of a plugin that does it?

[mr_vodka]

Matt,

You can try Troi Dialog Plugin.

[Matt Klein]

Thanks for the tip John.

I have been using Troi Dialog Plugin for several years and am unaware of a function or parameter that allows for controlling the size of the dialog box.

In fact, unlike FileMaker's Custom Dialog box, a dialog box generated by Troi's Dialog Plugin isn't resizable by the user.

[mr_vodka]

Hey Matt,

Hmmmm...

I could have sworn there was a switch for setting the height and width of the dialog box.

As for not letting the user resize it, I thought that is what you wanted to achieve, no?

[Matt Klein]

There is a function for setting the position of the dialog box, but that only controls where not how big.

I actually don't want the user to HAVE to resize it. I don't mind if they CAN resize it.

Essentially, if I want to present the user with a dialog box that contains a couple of paragraphs, I want that dialog box to show all the text in the paragraphs without requiring the user to resize it.

It is not always obvious that there is more text past the boundry of the dialog box that comes up. So, it is likely that the users will not realize they should resize it which means they will miss some information.

[ThatOneGuy]

Morning, Matt:

There is a function for setting the position of the dialog box, but that only controls where not how big.

No kidding? Is that in FM or through Troi's plug-in? Could you point me in that direction?

[Matt Klein]

Morning, Matt:

No kidding? Is that in FM or through Troi's plug-in? Could you point me in that direction?

It's through Troi's plug-in.

I suppose that a solution to this problem could be to a create a layout with a field with a scroll bar on it that one could use to present dialogs with in a new window that can be resized and positioned in a script.

Edited November 9, 2006 by Guest

[ThatOneGuy]

I was afraid it was through a plug-in, but I do appreciate the reply.

For your situation, what great fortune you already have the plug-in! You're gonna get this problem whipped, and your users will benefit. I can tell.

Just peering down the path of that other option ...

I suppose that a solution to this problem could be to a create a layout with a field with a scroll bar on it that one could use to present dialogs with in a new window that can be resized and positioned in a script.

True, and I do some of that already. It certainly adds another layer to the programming, but it's benefiits are worthy ...

• Not limited to 3 buttons

• Not limited to the pixel width of default buttons

• All window management functions are available for use

• All field formatting options available ... For dialogs that need user input, we can format data input fields as Value Lists

• All relational design techniques are available

I often include modal windows, so that extra layer is already in place. I just haven't integrated it as tightly as it could be.

Enjoyed the discussion, Matt. Thanks again for asking the question.

[Ted S]

Back to the original question;

A mediocre workaround is to present the user with a series of dialogs to read. You just display one after another and provide a "Next" or "More" button to move to the next dialog in the script.

[Matt Klein]

Back to the original question;

A mediocre workaround is to present the user with a series of dialogs to read. You just display one after another and provide a "Next" or "More" button to move to the next dialog in the script.

That's an interesting thought. I am pretty sure my transcriptionist customers would not care for that solution, but I can see some uses.