Wish List Item - "Public" file name and fpSnow

[Bruce Easton]

Scott Walker wrote Saturday, November 17, 2007 9:52 PM:
> 
> I think in ddefine you should be able to have a "public" file name
> field.  It should be as long as possible.  Ddefine should also let me
> have a "locked file message field".  

Good ideas.  Regarding the public filename, in addition to having an 
environment var, as John said, to say which expression to use in error 
messages (which I see as "friendly mode" vs. "debug mode"), I would 
also allow the "public" name stored by ddefine to be accessible via 
clerk/report to other programs through a system-maintained field.  
This way the developer can easily and consistently express the file's 
"friendly name" throughout an application in building popup menus, 
screen headings, custom warnings, etc. 

Regarding error messages - in general, I agree with Mark that being 
too friendly with error messages is probably not wise, especially if 
one is trying to intercept and reword something from the system that 
could indictate a system/program coding problem.  But in this case, 
in particular the locked file/record filepro errors, I think we are 
talking about explanations, not errors really, from filepro as it 
does its job of "traffic cop" between programs and records.

So, for those types of messages (that we usually intend and expect 
to be given), if the objective is to explain to the user why they 
don't currently have access to a given file/record, then why not 
allow the developer the ability to tailor that message for the 
application?  

> BTW, who do I send this to at fp for wishlist consideration.

Yeah - where should things like this go?

Did anyone see any merit in my wish on 11/12 for enhancing ddefine's 
option to create screen 0 to prompt for screen #/name and starting 
field number?  

Regarding Hazelton - is that snow stickin' around?  I'll be trying 
to go through that way Thursday on my way to Scranton, and I don't 
relish the idea of getting stuck and having to spend the night over 
top of a bar in Beaver Meadows or something weird like that :).

fpSnow: if you found this email searching for integrating filepro 
with Snow Report writer - your out of luck.(uh oh, now they really 
will find this email :))


Bruce

Bruce Easton
STN, Inc.