The eccoMAGIC Forums - MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?

rb

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MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
11/14/08 at 13:15:02

I am considering using Magic Merge to send out E-mails to several recipients.
I would like to create a subitem for all people to which an E-mail was sent. This is easy to do with LUA rules.

1. However, I would like the LUA rule to be triggered after doing the Merge. Is this possible?

2. Alternatively, can I trigger the Merge from a LUA command somehow..?

3. Third possibility would be for MagicMerge to create a checkbox in a folder after running the merge. However, I am not sure if that would trigger the LUA rule (I have had problems in the past to get that to work: External application creates a folder value, but that doesn't trigger the rules). IF this is the case, maybe MagicMerge Could also somehow send: ++:L:trigger_rule(item_id,"IF") to trigger the rules?

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« Last Edit: 11/14/08 at 14:18:36 by rb »

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Admin

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #1 - 11/16/08 at 15:09:23

Is possible to add to MM but not sure necessary to do.

If you're merging from phonebook view,

you can easily mark & toggle or assign all items.

but am not understanding your workflow.

What exactly are you trying to do that you would *want* a line added to every item merged to ?

Please describe how you are (or would like to be) using ecco / merge in your workflow.

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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #2 - 11/16/08 at 18:05:46

Quote from Admin on 11/16/08 at 15:09:23:

Please describe how you are (or would like to be) using ecco / merge in your workflow.

I am writing a template with LUA scripts for a volunteer organization with members. Each member is an item (in the phonebook and in other contexts). Any notes about this member are placed as subitems below the member. Sometimes an E-mail is sent out to selected members. When this happens, I want to place a subitem-note below those members, e.g. "E-mails about xxx sent". I already have a LUA script that does this; clicking on a button places a note below the selected members. However, I want this script to execute when clicking on merge.

Otherwise, we run the risk that the E-mails are sent out, and the person clicking the merge button forgets to execute the script or vice versa. Then the notes would not match what actually was done...

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Admin

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #3 - 11/17/08 at 08:24:00

What if the email didn't go out ?

What if the merged form used the wrong field for email (ie. no email to send to for most) ?

In an office would you check off sending when you printed the letter or when you actually place it in the mail ?

also,

is it best to have a subline for each email (taking up an item pointer memory for each email sent), or would a folder work just as good, eg.
folder "Emailed to on 01.02.09" attached to emails sent that day.

a person could have hundreds of folders attached to them, showing each day an email was sent.

=or=

a single email sent on field, updated with date each additional email was sent.

ie.

since there is MUCH we can do,

if we're going to do anything,

we might as well figure out,

if there is a better/cooler/more effective way to do it.

Basic idea would be for a file based default tag to attach (that could be modified ?) to each item included in email/fax/print.

note that with MM, you can easily use Word logic to send to some records and not others.

ps: have you tried to email with MM ?

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #4 - 11/17/08 at 08:25:24

Quote from rb on 11/16/08 at 18:05:46:

I am writing a template with LUA scripts for a volunteer organization with members.
..
I already have a LUA script that does this; clicking on a button places a note below the selected members. However, I want this script to execute when clicking on merge.

I wish we could get yours (and everyones) scripts and rules posted at the SRules board, it likely would inspire a lot more slang rulers....

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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #5 - 11/17/08 at 14:18:52

1. Many scripts are very specific to the program template and what I personally try to accomplish so it would not make sense to post those scripts. Other scripts may be modified to make them more 'generic' and could indeed be posted...

2. Regarding MM, I prefer to write my own scripts to make it more flexible. Thus, I would l simply want MM to trigger my LUA rule(s) for items that were merged.

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Admin Administrator I love Ecco! Posts: 134	Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa? Reply #6 - 11/17/08 at 21:11:47 so, a slang specific feature, toggle a field value. something like, if you file has a field "MagicMerge Check ME", it will be toggled on merge, and folder based rules will be triggered. something like that ?
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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #7 - 11/17/08 at 21:14:51

Quote from rb on 11/17/08 at 14:18:52:

1. Many scripts are very specific to the program template and what I personally try to accomplish so it would not make sense to post those scripts. Other scripts may be modified to make them more 'generic' and could indeed be posted...

even the most unique template can give others example/insight.

posting the entire .eco (with rules intact) is best.

The Template creation tool of the ADT should make it easy-- killing all the data but leaving the data structure and rules.

note: if there is sensitive data in a file, after creating template COMPRESS the file, save, and open in alternate viewer to verify all data is gone. Corrupt file has 'folded' data set, so items appear multiple times in file, but you don't see them via ecco interface.

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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #8 - 11/17/08 at 21:34:14

Quote from Admin on 11/17/08 at 21:11:47:

so, a slang specific feature,

toggle a field value.

something like,

if you file has a field "MagicMerge Check ME", it will be toggled on merge,

and folder based rules will be triggered.

something like that ?

Exactly!

However, I have never been able to get this to work. When an external application modifies a folder value, the rules are not triggered (only when I manually change the folder value in Ecco). Thus, it may be best to also send the LUA trigger command.

p.s. I would make a much short field/folder name though, e.g. "_MM"

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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #9 - 11/18/08 at 03:49:07

Quote from Admin on 11/17/08 at 08:24:00:

ps: have you tried to email with MM ?

Yes, but I have some problems/questions:

1. When I insert the E_mail field using the template builder, it is inserted between special symbols "« »", i.e. "«E_Mail».
However, in the help file it is inserted between curly brackets: {E-mail}. This doesn't work!

2. How do I create the hidden field. The help file says: {IF 1=2 "{E_mail}"}.
I do not understand this:
A. Curly brackets do not seem to work. What is the correct syntax?
B. How is this a hidden field?

3. I do not understand the description of how to use a word template inside the Ecco file.
A. Do you mean saving a link to a word file on the hard drive, or actually saving the word file as an object inside Ecco?
B. I selected several items in Ecco to merge, and then also selected an inserted word object, but when I clicked on Merge the word document was not selected...

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #10 - 11/18/08 at 05:47:56

Quote from rb on 11/18/08 at 03:49:07:

1. When I insert the E_mail field using the template builder, it is inserted between special symbols "« »", i.e. "«E_Mail».
However, in the help file it is inserted between curly brackets: {E-mail}. This doesn't work!

the special symbols can vary depending upon the view mode of Word. Set view mode (options) to show Field CODES.

the curly brackets are special Word symbols. You get a pair by pressing control+F9 (if memory serves).

Quote:

2. How do I create the hidden field. The help file says: {IF 1=2 "{E_mail}"}.
I do not understand this:
A. Curly brackets do not seem to work. What is the correct syntax?
B. How is this a hidden field?

use ctrl+F9 for word fields.

since 1 is never = 2, the document never prints the E_mail folder contents.

But, if you include the field at start of file, using *any* E_mail folder, you can create a per file default folder to use for email address.

note: similar with "subject" field of document being default.

Quote:

3. I do not understand the description of how to use a word template inside the Ecco file.
A. Do you mean saving a link to a word file on the hard drive, or actually saving the word file as an object inside Ecco?
B. I selected several items in Ecco to merge, and then also selected an inserted word object, but when I clicked on Merge the word document was not selected...

A. Either one works fine. Personally save word doc templates INSIDE the relevant ecco file so is 100% portable. (and easy, when need to print report, go to 'reports' folder, pull the desired form (ie. double click to open it in word), and click Merge...

B. OPEN the inserted word object, select items in Ecco, and merge to "Active Word Document".

ie. you can merge ON-THE-FLY from *ANY* word document (and *any* ecco file).

C. if your PHONE book view (for example) contains the desired records to merge, you can select SINGLE WORD FORM (link or actual) in ecco, and then activate merge. The *single* selected Word template will be automatically used for merge (eg., as Active Word Document).

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #11 - 11/18/08 at 05:54:37

Quote from rb on 11/17/08 at 21:34:14:

However, I have never been able to get this to work. When an external application modifies a folder value, the rules are not triggered (only when I manually change the folder value in Ecco). Thus, it may be best to also send the LUA trigger command.

this should not be case.

Have you tested with MagicView ??

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rb Senior Member I Love Ecco! Posts: 88	Command Line Switches? Reply #12 - 11/18/08 at 13:05:07 Are there any Command Line Switches? Can I start MM and open the MM Merge Window for E-mails right away? Now it is necessary to first start MM, next click on the icon while holding down shift-key.
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Admin Administrator I love Ecco! Posts: 134	Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa? Reply #13 - 11/18/08 at 22:07:38 if helpful there is a hotkey shortcut for email merge, WindowsKey + Shift + W + E if you're trying to activate from LUA script, is possible to add external call option. ps: when you try MagicView, do your LUA scripts run on folder updates ?
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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #14 - 11/19/08 at 01:53:38

Quote from Admin on 11/18/08 at 22:07:38:

if you're trying to activate from LUA script,
is possible to add external call option.

ps: when you try MagicView, do your LUA scripts run on folder updates ?

Activating E-mail merge from LUA script would be great (better than the other way around where MM starts LUA script).

I haven't had a chance to try MagicView yet.

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rb Senior Member I Love Ecco! Posts: 88	Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa? Reply #15 - 12/10/08 at 17:35:49 Is there anyway to call MM from a LUA command yet?
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Admin Administrator I love Ecco! Posts: 134	Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa? Reply #16 - 12/10/08 at 18:07:50 what specifically do you mean by 'call' ? to bring up the MM click to merge window, or to actually input options and directly merge ?
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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #17 - 12/10/08 at 19:01:45

I was hoping for the following:
I have a LUA script that I execute using a button in Ecco. It does some Ecco processing, then starts and opens the MM (the user may have to click on the MERGE button), after MM is complete, the LUA script continues the execution.

The alternative is now to manually execute script1, run MM, execute script2. If script1 or script2 are not executed, then the data will be messed up, so I would need all 3 to execute by clicking on 1 button.

Thus, what I need is a LUA command that opens and executes the MM.

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Admin Administrator I love Ecco! Posts: 134	Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa? Reply #18 - 12/10/08 at 20:18:23 so tool to : 1. launch the MM press button to merge screen, 2. wait for merge to be completed, 3. release back to the LUA. would that do it ?
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rb

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Re: MagicMerge trigger LUA rule or vice versa?
Reply #19 - 12/10/08 at 20:40:23

Quote from Admin on 12/10/08 at 20:18:23:

so tool to :

1. launch the MM press button to merge screen,

2. wait for merge to be completed,

3. release back to the LUA.

would that do it ?

Note sure exactly what step one does.
There would be a command "Launch MM" in my LUA script; e.g.

function merge()
Do some standard EccoExt LUA processing
.
Launch MM
.
Do some more LUA processing
end

The Launch MM command would:
A. Activate MagicMerge for Word
B. Execute "Word Merge"
C. Click the Merge Button

(When done, the script would continue with "Do some more LUA processing"

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