Re: RPGLE : Drop down list

[Booth Martin <booth@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Of course everyone noticed the scrollbar, right?  :)

Good point, Jerry.

What I do now is to place a protected input/output field with a default 
value of "(F4)"  directly after the field.  When a user double clicks 
the "(F4)" field with his mouse, the cursor moves to that field and an 
"Enter" is processed, so the program sees that the cursor is in the 
"(F4)" field and knows the user wants the dropdown list.associated with 
that field.   The user can either use the cursor in the field, with F4, 
or use the mouse to get the dropdown list..

Two other features I've added is that since the dropdown list is usually 
a few items, I enter the first subfile line as input capable and blank, 
so a user can easily add a new item to the list.  Secondly, if the 
dropdown program is called stand-alone (no %parms) then I have the 
entire subfile be input-capable so the user can add, change, or delete 
items easily.

Anyway, this process makes the entire dropdown selection process as a 
mouseable process, no key presses needed.

One other feature I have added has had mixed reception.  On an entry 
field that needs to be validated I validate the entry field against the 
file.  Instead of issuing an error message if the field is invalid I 
display the dropdown box, positioned to the entry lower than the invalid 
value.   Some places users like it, and in  some places they don't like it..




Jerry Adams wrote:
> I have used Booth's technique a few times, and the users like it.  The primary difference between the window technique and a Windows drop down box is that simply tabbing to the field in question or beginning typing does not open the list.  I use a command/function key in the program and put forward the window list based upon which field the cursor is in (sometimes there are more than two lists available on a panel).  
>
> Jerry C. Adams
> IBM System i Programmer/Analyst
> --
> B&W Wholesale
> office: 615-995-7024
> email:  jerry@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx] On Behalf Of Booth Martin
> Sent: Thursday, April 02, 2009 8:39 AM
> To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
> Subject: Re: RPGLE : Drop down list
>
> This is from 1998 so I am sure it needs fresh code, but:
>
> http://www.martinvt.com/Code_Samples/Dropdown_box/dropdown_box.html
>
> This isn't really a drop down list but it acts  about the same way.
>  
>
> Riaan Lourens wrote:
>   
> > Hi there,
> >
> > Can anyone please provide me with code examples of how to create a drop
> > down list in RPG?
> >
> > Thanks,
> > Riaan Lourens
> >
> >   
> >