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Button with address book behind to populate fields

In a database I am creating, there is to be a 'requested by' button. Behind the button I would like to have code that brings up an address book choice box, you pick the name of the caller from the address book <NAB> and the fields branch/phone etc are populated from that. There is a similar database in use on one of our servers <designed by someone no longer here> that has that type of button that works on that server only <though the form is used company wide>. The code behind the existing button is...

SubDir:=@LeftBack(@Subset(@DbName;-1);"\\");
DB_Name:=@If(SubDir="";"";SubDir+"\\") + ContactList;
Choice:=@PickList([Custom];@Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees";"Select A Contact";"Select the related contact.";1);
Chosen_Contact:=@Subset(Choice;1);
@If(Chosen_Contact ="";"";@Do(
@SetField("RelatedDocument"; @Text(Chosen_Contact));
@SetField("RequestedBy";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;2));
@SetField("PeopleToNotify";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;2));
@SetField("ReqByPhone";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;3));
@SetField("ReqByLocal";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;4));
@SetField("ReqByDept";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;5));
@SetField("ReqByDivision";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;6));
@SetField("ReqByBranch";@DbLookup("":"NoCache"; @Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees"; Chosen_Contact;7))))

Is this more complicated code than I need put in?

Any suggestions?

thanks

HemanthaKumar

The code,
SubDir:=@LeftBack(@Subset(@DbName;-1);"\\");
DB_Name:=@If(SubDir="";"";SubDir+"\\") + ContactList;

is the deciding factor to see what database it is hitting.

In the line,
Choice:=@PickList([Custom];@Subset(@DbName;1):DB_Name; "Employees";"Select A Contact";"Select the related contact.";1);

@Subset(@DbName;1), select the server which would be the current server the database is residing.

In order to generalize this code, do this (Which will be a hard coding)

Server := "Name of the server where the lookup db is residing";
DB_Name := "Path to the database"

OR you can use some kind of control document and store centrally the path and server info of the lookup database, OR you can create a shared field containting the same info.

Let me know which suits your purpose

~Hemanth

Paulette

ASKER

As the database will be on 3 or 4 servers, geographically distant, what would you suggest to be the 'best' or 'most straight-forward' way to accomplish what I am aiming to do?

any suggestions appreciated

HemanthaKumar

Replicate the database which will be used for lookup to all 3 or 4 servers and use the replicaID in place of Server:DBPath for lookup.

Paulette

ASKER

Would it be more straight-forward for me to create my own code or method to achieve this lookup? Rather than trying to pick someone elses code apart and change as necessary, would I maybe be further ahead <given I am at the beginner level of design> to use a method other than this?

Or maybe I am trying to do something WAY over my head....

thanks for your input as usual.....looking forward to your opinion...

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HemanthaKumar

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Paulette

ASKER

When I click on the 'requested by' button I get this error

'entry not in design list' <pretty unspecific I know....>

what causes this?

HemanthaKumar

The specified column 10 is hypothetical, you have to substitute with the column that contains all the information that will be retrieved and parsed.