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Dial_FlashDialog (function reference)

By November 1, 2020June 23rd, 2021Online Help, Troi Dialog Plug-in
Troi Dialog Plug-in for FileMaker Pro

Dial_FlashDialog

Displays a flash dialog box for a specified period of time.

SyntaxFunction badge

Dial_FlashDialog ( switches ; ticks ; message ; countdownText )

Parameters

switches (optional) this changes the behavior of the dialog
ticks the time this dialog must be visible, in 1/60th of a second
message specifies the text you want to display
countdownText (optional) a text at the bottom of the dialog that will countdown the seconds remaining

Switches

Switches can be empty or one of these:

-NoteIcon shows a note icon (indicating this dialog gives the user information)
-CautionIcon shows a caution icon (indicating this dialog warns the user)
-StopIcon shows a stop icon (indicating this is something severe which the user needs to address )
-CustomIcon shows a custom icon. This icon needs to be set before with the Dial_IconControl function

You can also add this switch:

-IconSize=48 display the icon at 48×48 pixels

Returned Result

Data type returned

Number

Result

This function always returns 0.

Originated in

Troi Dialog Plug-in 1.2

Compatibility

FileMaker Pro 16 to 19

Considerations

You can hold flash dialogs on the screen longer, or get rid of them early. This is what is possible:

– To dismiss a flash dialog: click on the dialog or press the ENTER or SPACE key.
– To keep a flash dialog longer on the screen: click on the dialog and hold the mouse button down. Or keep the ENTER or SPACE key down. When you release the mouse button or key the dialog goes away.

The parameter countdownText was added in v8.0: when you specify a countdown text the string “<secs>” will be replaced with the actual time in seconds remaining. So use for example the text: “This dialog will dismiss in <secs> seconds.”

IMPORTANT: Use only in a script. Do not use this function in a calculated field definition, because when FileMaker calculates the fields, this will result into a repeated dialog for EACH record.

Example

Set Variable [ $Result ; Dial_FlashDialog ( "-Unused" ; 120 ; "Have a nice day" ) ]

This will show a flash dialog box for 120 ticks = 2 seconds.

Example 2

We assume that in your FileMaker file the following fields are defined:

gDialogText		Global, text
gTicksPrefs		Global, text
result     		Global, text

The gDialogText field contains the text you want to display, and can be filled for example with a calculation. gTicksPrefs should be filled with a time in 1/60th of a second. You can then use this as a preference. Add the following script step:

Set Field [ result ; Dial_FlashDialog ( "-NoteIcon" ; gTicksPrefs ; gDialogText ) ]

This shows a flash dialog with the text and a note icon.

Example 3

Set Variable [ $Message ; "Hello there!"  ]
Set Variable [ $CountdownText ; "This flash dialog will dismiss in <secs> seconds."  ]
Set Variable [ $Result ; Dial_FlashDialog ( "-Unused" ; 5 * 60 ; $Message ; $CountdownText ) ]

This will show a flash dialog box for 5 seconds, with the text counting down to zero.

Used in example file

Flash.fmp12

Related functionFunction badge

Dial_IconControl

Related script stepScript step badge

Show Flash Dialog

Related topics

Troi Dialog Plug-in online help (overview)


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