Digital Workshop

Is there a way to set up User Text Input boxes, so that user can return after exiting the Pub and "Append" or "Edit over" previously entered text?

I can see how to display user input in standard text boxes by reading from external file. But how does user change or edit his previous responses, if he exits and returns later?

Any help appreciated.

I'm attaching an Opus file... but there's really not much there.

Hi Lar,

There are several methods for doing this, all involving the storage of the variable value from the text box in one way or another. Depending on the purpose and quantity of text to be stored, you can either write to the registry, a text file or an ini file.

1. The first is practical for configuration values or things like a user name / password.

2. The second is more suited to large blocks of text and needs to be read sequentially.

3. The last, I find, is a combination of the above two. It's kind of like have a snapshot of a record in a database, as the Section Headers allow you to quickly find information that you require. Opus VI includes the ability to write to INI, but I've never used this function - yet!

I DL the IMP and see if anything else comes to mind.

Mack

Hi Lar,

After DL the IMP, I see that you're already using the text file route. I've modified the publication to use a script to read and write your data. It's saved from Opus VI, so I hope it loads OK. If not, here is the script:


Call theReadFile function from a PAGE ONLOAD and call theWriteFile from the button click.

Mack

Mac, Thanks.

I'll be back on this in next couple days.
Thanks for taking time to look at the mock-up. I think what you're suggesting is that the script handling of the situation will "fill" the Text Input Object and make it editable... with a subsequent write action via a commit button.

I will play with this in v5.5. (want to complete some of this development before I change horses.) BTW, I didn't see a modified .imp -- so will go with the script you posted.

Lar

Kooky,

Could have sworn that I'd uploaded it. Anyway, here is is again.

Mac,

Thanks tons. I was at a loss for how to approach that.

It works in principle. Now I will need to refine how the script reads-in from the file. For example on first launch, user types in Line 1, line 2, line 3 into the 1st Input Box, ...and then more multline input into Box2, etc. Then after exit and relaunch, the script is reading back in Line 1 to Box1, and line 2 to box 2. So it's just a matter of working out the boundary issue now.

BTW, if any others are following this now... the Page 2 can be disregarded or deleted.

Thanks for the headstart.
Larry

Mac,

What I thought might be "a little work" to get the Pub to reload proper lines in respective User Input Boxes turned out to be no effort at all. Thanks again for your pointing the way.

I simply modified the Script 3 object, replacing WriteLine() with WriteField(). And replace ReadFile() with ReadField(). [I take it this accomplishes in script what Opus action dialogues do with the Checkbox options for newline, quotemarks, etc.]

Here is the changed script 3 for the above .IMP file.


Works perfectly! Mission accomplished.

Lar

The text Pub works fine with one exception.

If the User 'skips' inputting a response to TextInput1, the Read-in process on relaunch is incorrect. The NULL value in one TextInput box seems to throw off the series.

Any suggestions to avoid a null input, or to force a default blank space?

Lar
Try this script with some modification

O,
That does it. Thanks. Now what else can I get into?