script to change startup layout

[mikerennie]

Hi, I am trying to make a startup page/layout that makes you you save a copy which you then use thus keeping the original empty. "Save copy as" and then "open copy" work fine but when I re-open the copy I am in the startup page/layout (because it is copied as well ...... logical) What I would like is , either to delete the start-up page/layout during the copy or to change the default opening page/layout. Any ideas please?

[AHunter3]

Do I understand correctly that you are making your users save a copy of the entire database each time they log on? And work in the copy?

 

OK, I am massively curious. Why in the world would you want to do that? You are going to end up with a sprawling decentralized mass of files scattered hither and yon with unpredictable filenames. Or perhaps overly-predictable filenames, i.e., every individual user ends up with an identically named FileMaker database somewhere.

 

To answer your question, you want some identifiable parameter of your original database file that would uniquely flag it to its own script as the original. Where is it? Would it have a unique FilePath? (It should have one that's pretty darn unique on the same computer, but if the copies are going to end up on different computers that might not be the case). Is your Save Copy As script going to specify a filename and path? That would allow you to put the copy in a different location and/or as a different filename, which would make Get(FilePath) return a different string from the original. How about hosting, is your original going to be hosted, such that your users open it as a guest? If so, trapping for HostName in combo with FileName ought to do well as determinants of whether the file is the original or not. The copies won't be hosted, or if they are will not be hosted by the same host.

 

Anyway, trap for some such parameter to see if file seems to be the original, and only if it is do you run your Save Copy As routine.

 

But again, why are you doing this?

[mikerennie]

thanks for your prompt reply; It is just a small program to work out the scores and places for carriage driving orientation competitions. A sort of use once program which the 'organisers' will be guest users in kiosk mode. by making them save the original and work in the copy they can get a feel for the program before they use it for real. Each user starts with an empty DB. I haven't put in any delete record commands on purpose so that they can'nt loose their work by mistake, they may end up with empty records but that shouldn't be a problem (I hope). I have already built the program once in excel which worked fine but doesn't give you so many input options

another way that could be feasable maybe is to have a floating button on the first page that only shows up when the filename = original filename, but I couldn't figure that out either.

Hope this helps assuage your curiosity

[AHunter3]

Yes, that's a valid reason.

 

Apologies for the down-the-nose askance-looking. I sometimes see people (self-described Novices usually but not always) who go around creating different files for ongoing data entry purposes, different files for different subsets of their data, and I try to talk them out of that as early in the process as possible. Your situation is different.

 

Another way you could do what you're doing is store a copy of the database itself in a container field, then instead of Save Copy As you export the contents of the container field.

[mikerennie]

no problem about the askance its nice to have someone reply. bed time in europe nox but will try and work out how container fields work tommorrow and if I get stuck i'll repost here if I may

thanks again for the tip

[mikerennie]

I'm really struggling with container fields ...... apparently you can't put a runtime/kiosk inside another runtime/kiosk well you can but only the 'top' DB works

db called container with runtime/kiosk file called marks in said container

export marks into same file as container

run marks

container restarts not marks

[AHunter3]

The idea is that you have File X which is the file you want them to actually use (it's the trial version of your database); and you have File Y which is not the same file at all, which has a startup screen with a button for your users to click which, which clicked, exports a fresh copy of File X , which is stored inside its container field, to the Desktop or to the Documents folder or to a location of the user's choosing or whatever. (i.e., script step = Export Field Contents)

 

So, you've already got your File X. Make a File Y with a container field and insert file into that container field (NOT storing as a reference) and then File Y can product a copy of File X at will.

[mikerennie]

thats what I tried to do, but it doesn't seem to work with files x and y in kiosk mode. I runtimed and kiosked file X made file Y with button to export contents container and put the file X.exe into the container. Then I runtimed and kiosked file Y. When I run file X.exe it is file Y that opens

[mikerennie]

thats what I tried to do, but it doesn't seem to work with files x and y in kiosk mode. I runtimed and kiosked file X made file Y with button to export contents container and put the file X.exe into the container. Then I runtimed and kiosked file Y. When I run file X.exe it is file Y that opens

Sorry not too clear file X.exe is the runtime/kiosk .exe

[Jack Rodgers]

May I suggest the obvious, that the obvious is often overlooked once someone comes up with an idea and rather than consider whether it is a reasonable idea embarks upon implementing the idea. The obvious is also often overlooked when earnest question answerers fail to look outside the question.

 

The idea proposed is not needed.

 

Simply make a copy of the original in the Finder or zip the original and let the user unzip a copy, deciding whether to use it for testing or for the original.

 

The test copy can be discarded and another copy unzipped when needed.

 

For more advanced use, a button(s) could be added "Use As Demo, Use for Real". If used as demo, a flag could be set which would allow the notification to the user that this file is a demo only whenever the file is opened/closed.

[mikerennie]

thanks Jack Zipping is a great idea, I should have thought of it myself. Mea culpa