Hi,
KimD wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:27 pmSo the part that I want to store as a Custom Property is "field A = 90 and field B > 0".
cCondition of fld "A" in my previous example:
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([[me]] = 90) AND ([[fld "B"]] > 0)
WHOW!, I completely missed the usefulness of this for general input validation. I learn a lot here, actually ;-)
Whereas I'm going more and more away from direct user input into fields. This works great on traditional desktop machines but is a complete PITA on mobile (due to abysmal means of input) - and doesn't work at all (reliable) in table fields that I generally use instead of the dreaded dataGrid.
And it's more suited to the traditional "chain of work" anyways, where there's so often a "media break" (paper => database) that requires manual data entry. These days basically everything comes (and goes) in digital form, so the main attention is now on creating interfaces/ parsers for the different data formats, and to create the best possible matching predictions that then only need minor corrections & acknowledgment.
So I have now my own "ask/ answer"-like input system with extensive use of "+ / -" buttons, option menus etc. that's a bit slower on desktop PCs but much faster on tablets. Still, there's need for input validation, and having the condition in the cCondition of the calling object, and having handled it by the input system, saves some more of redundant code. Maybe such:
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on mouseDoubleUp -- this lives in a locked field
get askInput(the name of me,"Augustiner")
-- my cCondition is: "([[it]] = "Augustiner")"
-- my cQuestion is: "What beer do you want?"
-- my cTitle is: "Choose your beer:"
if line 2 of it is empty then -- condition met:
set the cValue of me to line 1 of it -- for display/ further processing
else -- condition not met:
answer line 2 of it & " is not acceptable!" titled "Barbarian!"
-- or process the input in line 2 of it (an unacceptable choice)
end if
end mouseDoubleUp
function askInput theCaller, theDefault -- this lives somewhere in the message path
-- to make it comprehensible I do a simple ask call:
ask the cQuestion of theCaller with theDefault titled the cTitle of theCaller
if it is empty then exit to top -- user hit "Cancel"
if merge("[[" & merge(the cCondition of theCaller) & "]]") then
return it
else
return false & CR & it
end if
end askInput
Now the whole evaluation is centralized in the askInput function. Left in the input field is very few redundant code - and we might use behaviors to reduce this even further (if the implementation of these wouldn't be this awkward in my 6.7.10 ...)
Mental note to myself: Implement!!!
Ooops, I stumbled over something unrelated:
KimD wrote: Wed Apr 17, 2019 10:27 pmthe next thing after this on my to-do list after this is "deploy to Apple"
If you don't have a full set of contemporary AppleStuff already, check with your clients before, carefully. Cupertino's h_iWaymen are merciless - you'll need to be very sure your costs will be covered!
Only once a customer approached me with this - he had an iPad inherited from his daughter, and wanted to use these now in the company. So I investigated and pointed him to the
Apple Developer Enterprise Program which he must be member of to install his own proprietary App on his own iPads (that are used by his own employees) without having to buy it from himself via the iStore (and drop a 30% fee for Apple). A few requirements are:
- " Join the Apple Developer Enterprise Program for 299 USD per year" ...
- "To enroll in the Apple Developer Enterprise Program, your organization must be a legal entity with 100 or more employees."
- "Your organization must have a D-U-N-S Number so that we can verify your organization’s identity and legal entity status. These unique nine-digit numbers are assigned by Dun & Bradstreet ..."
I cannot quote his reaction, there may be minors reading. In short, his idea suffered an immediate decease.
And I hadn't even told him yet he'd have to buy me a suitable Mac & an iPad to test on, and to pay my Apple Developer Program bribe. :)
And he hadn't even realized yet how many of his existing tablets got lost/ damaged in the field each year, and that an Apple replacement for even the best of his existing tablets had an above 100% price extra.
So my advice: Make sure it really makes sense, before you start spending time & money.
Windows/ Linux/ Android work very well with LC, allow the use of GPL, without any need to buy expensive proprietary stuff/ pay some greedy h_iWaymen.
And has, together, an overwhelming market share compared to iOS/ MacOS.
At least as long as you need to sell your code to real live businesses that are able to pay you enough to earn you a living. It may be different for other people.
Have fun!
