Pause Script Until After User Manually Works on Data Table

[#1]

Folks,

I'm trying to pause my script so that a user can manually work on an open data table (manually examine data and add/delete rows or columns) before proceeding.  I've tried using a dialog box to accomplish this, but I can't work on the data table until after the dialog box is accepted.  Does anyone have any suggestions on how I can accomplish this?  

Clear Log();

Names Default to Here ( 1 );

dt.bigclass = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.JMP" );

 New Window( "WAIT!",
<<modal,
Beep(),
V List Box(
Text Box(
"Manually Add/Delete Rows or Columns In Data Table"
),
)
);

// User adds or subtracts rows/columns from open data table before proceeding

// Other instructions

[#2 · Accepted solution]

Just don't make the new window modal.  Then have all the actions inside of the OK button (or whatever button). 

Names Default To Here( 1 );
dt.bigclass = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.JMP" );
New Window( "WAIT!",	
	Beep(),
	V List Box( Text Box( "Manually Add/Delete Rows or Columns In Data Table" ), ), 
	Hlistbox(
		Buttonbox("OK", 
			<<Set Function(
				Function({self}, 
					print("do stuff");
					self<<Close Window;
				)
			)
			
		)
	)
);

[#3]

Thanks Vince,

That was easy.  I guess I need to read about Modal properties.

[#4]

Vince,

If I understand the user's question, I am trying to do a very similar thing, i.e. allow the user to edit a table before proceeding with the script. Maybe I didn't do something right, but when I use the script above within my script the program just keeps running causing an error because the necessary table edits have not been accomplished.

So, if I use modal, the script stops but doesn't allow a table edit.

If I don't use modal a table edit is allowed before pressing OK but the script keeps running without the necessary edit.

I want the script to stop running and not proceed until the user indicates that the table edits have been made.

Can this be done?

Thanks in advance for your help.

Patrick Carroll

[#5]

The script and idea provided by Vince should work, you have to place the actions which you want to perform, after button is pressed, inside the buttons function call

Button Box("OK",
	<<Set Function(Function({self},
		Print("do stuff"); // this
		self << Close Window; // and this
	))		

The script which will be executed after the "OK" button is pressed is this:

Print("do stuff"); self << Close Window;

There are other ways of doing this but this is most likely the easiest option and I would start with it.

[#6]

For this particular example, if you are wanting the user to perform manual operations on a table, you can create a data view/data box for that table that will show in the same window.  For example:

Names Default To Here( 1 );

dt = New Table( "My Table" );
dt << Add Rows( 10 );
dt << New Column( "X1", Set Values( J( 10, 1, Random Normal() ) ) );
dt << New Column( "X2", Set Values( J( 10, 1, Random Uniform() ) ) );

nw = New Window( "Prepare Your Data",
	hb = H List Box(
		V List Box(
			Text Box( "Delete Unneccesary Columns in Table and then click OK" ),
			Button Box( "OK", nw << close window )
		), 
		
		Panel Box( "Data Table View",
			Border Box( Sides( 15 ), dt << new data box(), <<border( 1 ) )
		)
	)
);
Wait( 0 );
nw << bring window to front;

[#7]

I'm guessing you are doing something like this.  

Names Default To Here( 1 );
dt.bigclass = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.JMP" );
New Window( "WAIT!",	
	Beep(),
	V List Box( Text Box( "Manually Add/Delete Rows or Columns In Data Table" ), ), 
	Hlistbox(
		Buttonbox("OK", 
			<<Set Function(
				Function({self}, 
					print("do stuff");
					self<<Close Window;
				)
			)
			
		)
	)
);

print("this shouldn't show until okay");
// other stuff

where you don't want the "this shouldn't show until okay

You need to not do ANYTHING else until okay is pressed though.  The normal way I do this is by using functions and calling them from the okay button.  

Names Default To Here( 1 );
dt.bigclass = Open( "$SAMPLE_DATA/Big Class.JMP" );

action_okay = function({}, 
	//{DEFAULT LOCAL}, //uncomment this if you want the variables to be local only (don't exist outside the function)
	// put everything you want to do after okay button in here.  
	print("this shouldn't show until okay");
	// other stuff
);
New Window( "WAIT!",	
	Beep(),
	V List Box( Text Box( "Manually Add/Delete Rows or Columns In Data Table" ), ), 
	Hlistbox(
		Buttonbox("OK", 
			<<Set Function(
				Function({self}, 
					print("do stuff");
					action_okay();
					self<<Close Window;
				)
			)
			
		)
	)
);