when field processing

[Kenneth Brody]

John Esak wrote:
> 
> >
> > Yes, assuming you are not in a mode that goes to another record (such as
> > "add records" mode), after saving the record, filePro will once again run
> > automatic processing on it before going back to the "enter selection"
> > prompt and @ENTSEL.
> 
> Yup, you've just put your finger on the essential difficulty. One has to try
> to describe the "normal", or "basic" or "standard" operation of filePro
> first, just so people get that under their belt... than the infinite
> variations of what can be done come into play and they can be better
> understood.

True.  That's why I try to describe things in general terms, and then use
specific situations around them.

For example, automatic is run whenever the record is read and displayed in
*clerk.  That's a pretty simple concept to grasp.  (At least I hope it is.)

Now "why does filePro run automatic processing three times when you update
a record"?  Using the above statement, "automatic is run whenever the record
is read and displayed in *clerk", let's examine it.

First, the record is read and displayed, so it's run.  You then press "U"
to enter update mode, the record is read and displayed again, just in case
someone has modified the record since you last displayed it, so automatic
is run again.  After saving the record (assuming you're in a mode that will
stay on the same record), the record is displayed once again, and therefore
automatic is run again.

So, by associating read/display with automatic, it is hopefully clearer why
automatic "runs three times" in this case.  It's not so much that "filePro
runs automatic three times" for some reason known only to Dave, but rather
"the well-defined situation which causes automatic to be run is encoutered
three times during this series of events".


Think of it not just "teaching you to fish", but also "teaching you why
fishing works as it does".  ;-)

-- 
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| Kenneth J. Brody        | www.hvcomputer.com |                             |
| kenbrody/at\spamcop.net | www.fptech.com     | #include <std_disclaimer.h> |
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