Checkbox Graphics Representing Logical Fields

[jmci]

I've always used checkbox controls for number-type fields used to represent logical true and false. In my latest project I thought I'd try something I've seen other developers do. I found two graphics files that look like checkboxes, one checked and the other un-checked, and stored them in global container fields. I've added a calculation field to my table indicating that if the value of the logical field = 1, return the checked graphic, otherwise return the un-checked graphic. I've placed the calculation field on my layout and made it into a button which activates a script that toggles the logical field.

It worked perfectly and looks very polished and professional. Then I did a find on that table and found that my calculation field seemed to disappear. It didn't display any graphic at all. Why not?

I'd hoped users would be able to click on my checkbox graphics while in find mode to specify records with a "true" value in the logical field as find criteria but it doesn't seem to work that way. Does anybody know a solution for this? Do I have to go back to using checkboxes?

[David Jondreau]

A field-based calculation will only resolve when there's a record to evaluate from, ie not in Find mode or when there's 0 records in a found set.

I've found it frustrating to customize Find mode, especially with fields. You could try conditional formatting or script triggers to achieve the same effect though. You could place a single-spaced text box over the checkbox with no fill and conditional formatting to fill when the field is empty. You could use hidden tab panels to alternate between showing the checkbox or not (you'll need on record load script triggers too as users navigate through multiple requests).

There's probably more elegant ways, but that's what comes to mind.

[Vaughan]

Instead of graphics, use characters from one of the symbol fonts like Wingdings (1, 2, 3) or WebDings and conditional formatting: the "empty" box if the field is zero or empty, and the "checked" box if the field is one.

Still have the find mode problem though, which is why I avoid this fancy-graphical-interface-element stuff like the plague.

[jmci]

I guess I've just got too much going on to worry about this. Back to checkboxes. J