[AccessD] Short Date Input Mask question

For me, mass data input didn't matter. It was simply moving back and
forth between the keyboard and the mouse(pointing device).

I never meant to imply that RSI was confined to mouse use. 

For me (and that is all I can speak about), it was lessened by several
factors. I got an ergonomic keyboard, I switched from a mouse to a
trackball and I started keeping my hands on the keyboard and using the
pointing device less and less.

I can't lay the blame on any one thing, but a combination of these 3
things have helped. It still flairs up, and it is *USUALLY* caused, for
me anyway, when I am constantly moving from pointing device to
keyboard.

If you have ADH2K, there is no need to rebuild your date picker. The
sample mdb for Chapter 8 has a really nice one. It can be used as a pop
up OR embeded as a sub-form.

Bryan Carbonnell
bryan_carbonnell at cbc.ca

>>> Lambert.Heenan at AIG.com 17-Mar-04 10:52:20 AM >>>
Bryan,

Point taken. This was why I made the comment about mass data input. In
point
of fact it is possible, though a bit clunky, to select a date with the
keyboard, and I should perhaps revisit the design on the form to make
it
easier to do so.

RSI is a serious problem, and I sympathize with your for having to deal
with
it. However it's not confined to mouse use, indeed I remember it first
being
reported back in the 80's before mice very prevalent. In those days
the
blame was laid at the door of the extreme ease with which computer
keyboards
operated vs. manual typewriters. This allowed for very rapid
keystrokes,
which was thought to be the root cause of RSI. 

I also see people who have bizarre ideas about how they should
position
their keyboards and mice. In short there are lots of factors involved,
and
at the end of the day the user has to figure out the best way to use
the
d*mned machines. So, to reiterate, I think I'll take the time to
redesign my
date picker form to allow for better keyboard use of it.

Lambert

> From:	Bryan Carbonnell [SMTP:Bryan_Carbonnell at cbc.ca] 
> Sent:	Wednesday, March 17, 2004 9:52 AM
> To:	accessd at databaseadvisors.com 
> Subject:	RE: [AccessD] Short Date Input Mask question
> 
> Lambert,
> 
> It may work fine for you, but does it work for your users? Do you
force
> them to use the mouse to select the date, or can they do everything
they
> need to from the keyboard?
> 
> The only reason I bring this up is that I have had RSI from moving
> between the mouse and keyboard for data entry too much. It got to
the
> point where by 10 AM I could not feel my little finger and half of
my
> lower arm becaude of it.
> 
> As soon as I got one application that I used on a regular basis more
> keyboard friendly it helped.
> 
> Just try to keep that in mind. I know I always do. I let users use
the
> mouse or enter with the keyboard. Their choice.
> 
> Bryan Carbonnell
> bryan_carbonnell at cbc.ca 
> 
> 
> >>> Lambert.Heenan at AIG.com 17-Mar-04 9:21:45 AM >>>
> My solution to date entry is simple - I never let user's type in a
> date.
> They always pick the date from a simple calendar form (though I don't

> use
> the MS Calendar control). Click on a date field and up pops the date
> picker.
> While this would not be suitable, perhaps, in applications where
> massive
> numbers of dates need to be entered, I find it works just fine for
me.