UI Question / Browse Type Object

[Rob Cozens]

>I am developing database apps on OS X and was wondering what people 
>do for the typical database scenario where the user needs the 
>ability to scroll thru a list of records (I call it a "browse") to 
>select a record to view/edit/delete?

Hi Brian,

Here are some approaches I use:

1.  Maintain a scroll field in the stack on-the-fly by updating the 
field with each addition, deletion, or change to displayed 
information.  Limitation: not suitable for active multi-user dbs.

2.  Ask the db to return paired lists of specified record content and 
the corresponding record ids.  Display the first list in a field with 
a mouseUp handler along the lines of

	loadARecord line (word 2 of the clickLine) of field "Record Ids".

Limitation: server O/H accessing all records.

3.  Display a search dialog that fetches & displays 
all/next/someQuantity of matching records for the user to select 
from.  This uses Transcript's Find command, and is reasonable fast--I 
have test dbs up to 20K+ records & 20+MB.  In addition, in 
Client/Server mode each hit is returned to the client, which in turn 
issues another Find starting at the new location.  This reduces the 
potential for searching a large range of records from locking out 
other clients...however this is still a potential problem as the 
entire range will be searched in one operation if the target text is 
not found.

The search dialog will be included in the next release of Serendipity 
Library.  If you'd like a copy or a screen shot of the search 
subStack, let me know privately.
-- 

Rob Cozens
CCW, Serendipity Software Company
http://www.oenolog.net/who.htm

"And I, which was two fooles, do so grow three;
Who are a little wise, the best fooles bee."

from "The Triple Foole" by John Donne (1572-1631)