Transparent Data Text

[mharrsch]

I know how to make objects transparent but there is no "transparent" setting for text within a field that I am aware of. I would like to have the capability to layer a selection field like ID Number that is formatted to display a drop down list of Names over the field that displays the related names so a user can select from a list of names, change the ID number transparently, then see only the resulting name selected. At present I have set the ID field to transparent including all borders, etc and formatted it with a drop down list based on the ID number and Name with only Name to show in the drop down list. Then I layered the field over the related Name field (using the bring to the front option) with the upper edge extending above the Name field the width of the ID data text (because the data text is displayed top left) and formatted the ID text to be the same color as the layout background. I have to do this because the ID text, although transparent now because it is the same color as the background, will still show over black text of the field behind it. It would be cleaner if I could just set the ID Text to be transparent so I could position the ID field with dropdown list directly over the Name field and not have to worry about the text partially showing through over the Name field data text. Is this possible and I'm just unaware of the option setting?

[comment]

Why don't you simply place the related Name field over the drop-down, and make it non-enterable?

[mharrsch]

Thanks! That works great. The only thing that is a little confusing to the user is that the value selected does not display until they click outside the field. The Tab order is set so upon drop down selection, the tab moves the user to the next field but the related Name field does not change until they either click outside the field or on an OK button I created that executes a Commit Record script step. I know FM 9 allows you to execute scripts on field exit but I'm using FM 8.5. Is there anyway to execute a Commit Record script step automatically after the drop down selection has been made using FM 8.5?

[comment]

Actually it's version 10 that has native script triggers, but you could use a plugin instead. Or change the drop-down to a pop-up - then you won't even need the related field.

[mharrsch]

The layout had a popup menu. The problem is the popup menu is really long and the client asked to change the popup menu to a dropdown list so it would be shorter and they could use autocomplete to navigate quicker to their desired selection. Is there any other way to accomplish their goal that I'm overlooking?

[comment]

As I said, you could use a plugin. There were 4 free offerings to choose from, IIRC.

[bcooney]

Since you've asked, when popup menus become too long, I usually provide a popup select list window.

The attached demo requires FM10, as it uses a script trigger. But if you could add a button next to the Name begins with field to let the user run the "find" script.

PopupSelectNew2.fp7.zip

[Raybaudi]

...or on an OK button I created that executes a Commit Record script step.

Actually that can be done without creating an OK button and w/o a script trigger.

The trick here is to place the related name field NOT alone, but inside its own portal.

BTW: investigating a little more brings up that even the simple related field ( unaccessible ) placed over the accessible ContactID, lets show the related value on exit. ( this is surely true on Win )

VL.zip

[mharrsch]

I've got an added complication. The field with drop down list resides on a tab control of a layout based on a parent table. The primary table is called Projects. The contact ID field is in a related field in the table Jobs. The fullname field is in the table Clients related to the table Jobs by the key field ContactID but not related directly to Projects.

Your solution works beautifully on a standard layout based on the table containing the field Contact ID that is related to the table containing the fullname field. However, on a tab control within a layout based on a primary Table not directly related to the table containing the fullname field it requires the Commit Records OK button to display the new name.

As an experiment I created a calculated field in the table that contains the Contact ID (Jobs) that equals the related FullName value in the Clients table and used it for the nonenterable field and now I can get the name to display as soon as it is selected. However, the tab control also contains two other fields from the Clients table that display the related email and phone for the newly selected client. They do not update without the issuance of a commit records command. I created calculated fields in the Jobs table equal to their respective values in the Clients table too and replaced the related fields with these new fields but they will not update without a commit record command either. At least the solution is less confusing now as it displays their drop down selection before they click OK. Of course if they would update to FM 10 I could create a script trigger to execute the commit records command. But we're so close! I really appreciate your help. I see you are from Rome. I was just there a couple of months ago and attended a wonderful exhibit on Julius Caesar at the Chiostro di Bramante.

[Raybaudi]

Hi Mary

can you modify this example to let me see better your problem ?

Projects.zip