I have a customer application which places a number (numeric) in consecutive order in the Customer ID# element. Thus each new customer receives an ID# in increments of 1. I am having difficulty in determining where to place the following (if correct) programming:

if @add and CustomerID# = "" then CustomerID# = @Number

Does it get placed in:
On Element Entry, On Element Exit, On Form Change, On Element Change, On Form Entry, On Form Exit, On Element Immediate Change, or a combination of the above?

I dont want it to fire upon form entry because if I decide to cancel the form (exit without saving) it still will fire. Or if you go backwards (F9) it fires again.

If there is better programming for consecutive order of a number in adding a record let me know.

Peter

Bob Hansen makes excellent points, Here is my simplistic explanation. It might be helpful as a starting point.


Wildwood,

There are many ways to accomplish a unique record number in Sesame. 1 way that seems simple and efficient is using a global value. I can not guarantee this is the best way but it seems to work for me.

I place this line of code in any element for on form entry.


Globalvalue ("RecNum", RecNum) // this is placing record number in the global value holder



Then this next piece of code can be added to a number of places.

You can place this in on element exit of the last field you will use.

Or you can execute the code based on a question you ask the user (do you want to keep this record)
Or possibly on form exit of a field.


Var vRecNum as Int   // Declare your variable


If @IsBlank(RecNum) Then
     {
           //Set record Number for a custumer id
           vRecNum = @TN(@GlobalValue("vNextRECNum"))
           RecNum = vRecNum
           GlobalValue("vNextRecNum", @Str(vRecNum + 1))

     }


To use this exact example just to see how it works in a simple example

Open any dsr
Add an element named RecNum
Save layout design
Go to program layout
Place this line in any on form entry element
Globalvalue ("RecNum", RecNum) // this is placing record number in the global value holder

Place this in any on element exit

Var vRecNum as Int   // Declare your variable


If @IsBlank(RecNum) Then
     {
           //Set record Number for a custumer id
           vRecNum = @TN(@GlobalValue("vNextRECNum"))
           RecNum = vRecNum
           GlobalValue("vNextRecNum", @Str(vRecNum + 1))

     }

save layout design

now when you exit the element you placed the code in it will enter the next number in the RecNum field.

This is just the basics you can add much more to check other conditions, I was just trying to keep this simple.

I am pretty sure the Lanticans and others will pipe in with other and possibly better suggestions.

Good luck.

You can start application with something like this:

IF @Globalvalue("vNextRecNum") = "" THEN {
	Globalvalue ("vNextRecNum", 101)
	} 

Hi Wildwood,

To change your starting number start your application in sdesigner.

click the Application property manager.
3rd field down in the application properties is @number field.
set this to 100
save your changes.

(a tool tip field should appear if you pause your mouse pointer over the field explaining things - nice touch lantica!)

when you enter a field using @nmb your first number will be 101

this change will be carried accross to the "live" sesame when you reconcile your application

For what it's worth, the code that initializes the GlobalValue does not need to be permanently in the application. You can run a Mass Update on a single record to set the GlobalValue to 101.