Freeze Window - Doesn't seem to really freeze.

[Jack]

Hi problem solvers !

I want to use Freeze Window to go to another file without the user seeing it. Although the user does not see the second file, he does see quite a bit of flicker & movement etc, as file #2 opens and the original one comes back to the forefront.

Is this the way Freeze Window is supposed to work?

Is there some way to prevent the movement?

Thanks.

Jack

[LiveOak]

One of the things to watch out for is not to use any script steps which cause screen redraw in the external script you a calling (zoom, toggle). Behavior is different on Mac and PC with screen controls, you didn't specify.

-bd

[RussBaker]

I've found that while the window contents will remain frozen, if you're doing a loop through a series of records in a list view, the handle in the window vertical scroll bar will move. Can be a bit disconcerting but at least it lets users know that the software hasn't frozen.

[Vaughan]

Getting the window to really remain motionless is rather a black art. As alreadt suggested check all scripts and sub-scripts for steps that change the window. I've also recently found that "Page Setup" steps can also cause the screen to redraw.

[Jack]

Thank you all for the suggestions.

My external script does have a screen redraw and that seems to be the problem.

By the way Vaughan, I hate to ask... but is "black art" a little like black magic ?

Jack

[Vaughan]

It seems to depend upon the alignment of the planets as much as anything else!

[Kundinger]

It is important that there are NO "Windows" script steps being performed within any scripts or sub-scripts that are running or will be run. I have found these script steps to cause "flashing" on screen which irritate and confuse users.

IDEA:

To give users a "positive" feedback as to the progress of looping scripts, I implement a layout and scripts with a "progress bar".

I create a duplicate layout that is "locked" and add a 'fake' dialog box with a global text field that will display a "progress bar". Any of my scripts that have to loop thru many records always include a set of steps that will append a '|' character to the global field "progress bar" and refresh the screen.

Doing this shows the user that my FileMaker solution is functioning and progressing and has not locked-up!

I hope this helps!

[Jack]

Bob:

I have discovered that it is as you say.... Any script will cause the screen to flash.

Your idea sounds great.

Can you give me some more information on creating the progress bar.

Thanks.

Jack

[Kundinger]

Jack,

I am e-mailing you a sample file to look at. It is a FileMaker 5.X file.

Good Luck

Bob Kundinger