Loop Script to Notify User of Duplicate Entry

[Steve T Cunliffes]

Hi,

 

I am trying to write a script that when a user selects a value from a predefined value list, if that value has already been used it Undoes/Removes that value.  This script applies to a portal by the way. 

 

It works in that if I select say the value '2014' then in the next record I select the same value '2014' it removes it.  But if I select '2014', then in the next record '2015', then in the next record '2014' it doesn't remove it. 

 

It's as if it's only checking the previous record for a duplicate and not all the records yet i'm telling it to loop through them all to check for duplicates.  Here is my script: -

Go to Portal Row [Select; First]
Set Variable [$UniqueField; Value:Client Account Deposits For Accounts::Date]
Go to Portal Row [Select; Next]
Loop
    Exit Loop If [Get(FoundCount)=0]
    If [Client Account Deposits For Accounts::Date = $UniqueField]
     Undo/Redo [Undo]
     Exit Loop If [Get(FoundCount)≠0]
     Show Custom Dialog["Message Notice"; "Year already exists, please select alternative year"]
   Else
    Set Variable [$UniqueField; Value:Client Account Deposits For Accounts::Date]
    Go to Portal Row [Select; Next; Exit after last]
   End If
End Loop
 

I am aware of the 'unique value' setting for a field but don't wish to use it in this scenario. 

 

Any help with my script would be greatly appreciated.

 

Cheers

Steve





 

 

[Justin Close]

What about creating a temporary new record entry area, instead of entering it directly into the portal?  Create a global field where they enter the value (could be a drop-down or basic edit box); then you have a script on a trigger that first does a search in the existing records for that value; if found count = 0 then you can create a new record.  If it is > 0, then you don't create a record.

set $var = global_entry_field
go to layout "Utility" [target_table]
enter find mode
set field "Date" = $var
perform find
if (get(foundcount) = 0 )
     create record
else
   show custom dialog:  "That value already exists."
end if

There are a number of other ways to find out if records exist that match a certain value; doing a Find is just one of them.

 

 

--  J

[comment]

I don't understand your script that well (what's the role of Get(FoundCount)=0 in the loop?).

 

In general, you can look at all values present in child records at once, using the List() function - so looping over a portal should not be necessary.

 

You might also look into removing any previously used values from the value list - see:

http://fmforums.com/forum/showpost.php?post/274656/

 

--

Note that none of these methods are designed to replace field-level validation completely.

[Steve T Cunliffes]

Justin, thank your suggestion, i'm not sure it's really what i'm after but I will give it a try.  Hope I don't sound too unappreciative.

 

Consultant, I'm still learning myself how loops work and having looked at literally 100's of examples, as I understand, the Get(FoundCount)=0 is necessary if i'm entering a new record for the first time.

Likewise [Get(FoundCount)≠0] I have found seems to be necessary because if I don't include it the script fails for some reason and an egg-timer appears on my screen of which I have to press escape to stop the script from running.

 

Thank you both anyway, I will keep looking and trying different examples to learn more about how they work as sure it's just a matter of tweeking mine a little to get it to work.

 

Steve

[comment]

I am afraid you are working under several false assumptions here. Get (FoundCount) counts the records in the current found set. It has nothing to do with a portal. In the situation you describe, Get (FoundCount) will never be equal to 0.

 

Regarding the egg-timer: if you don't include an exit condition in a loop, the loop will be endless. If your exit condition is Get (FoundCount)≠0, then the loop will exit, because - as I just said - this will always be true. You could just as well have used Exit Loop If [1]. Effectively, both conditions neutralize the loop statement, since the loop will never get to a second iteration.

 

There are other things in your script that need untangling, but rather than discussing them, I recommend (again) you adopt a method that doesn't require looping over a portal.