[AccessD] Short Date Input Mask question

...I use a variation of Drew's old calendar ...works great :)

William Hindman
You know the world is upside down when Bill Clinton wins a Grammy and Janet
Jackson is the subject of a government sex investigation. Argus Hamilton.


----- Original Message ----- 
From: "Bryan Carbonnell" <Bryan_Carbonnell at cbc.ca>
To: <accessd at databaseadvisors.com>
Sent: Wednesday, March 17, 2004 12:39 PM
Subject: RE: [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.
> 
> -- 
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