PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute to accept a negative time

Question

We have a few needs to have a time field in Acumatica (PXDBInt as total minutes) to show the value to the user and allow the user to enter in a negative value. The standard formatting of the PXDBTimeSpanLong attribute doesn't allow a negative value to be entered or correctly displayed (db value or unbound formula value is negative already).

Has anyone created a custom class that inherits PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute and been able to get a negative value to display and be entered? We are using the TimeSpanFormatType.ShortHoursMinutesCompact format which displays in hh:mm

Example user entries:

"01:30" (1 hour and 30 minutes)
"-02:45" (negative 2 hours and 45 minutes)
"00:05" (5 minutes)

Sample DAC usage for PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute:

public abstract class myTime : PX.Data.IBqlField
{
}
[PXDBTimeSpanLong(Format = TimeSpanFormatType.ShortHoursMinutesCompact)]
[PXUIField(DisplayName = "My Time")]
public virtual Int32? MyTime { get set; }

Testing the formatting using ShortHoursMinutesCompact

A positive value between "00:00" (int 0) and "23:59" (int 1439) works correctly
A negative number while stored in the database correctly is not correctly displayed (assuming the entry allows for negative entry). For example an expected "-02:45" (int -165) value results in a display of " 0:2 ". When I click in the field then click out the value is changed to "00:02" without entering any new value.
There is no field restriction from entering in a value greater than 24 hours even though the intent of the ShortHoursMinutesCompact format is a 24 hour entry. The field will allow and accept any value that fits the hh:mm format (values between "00:00" and "99:99"). When the user enters for example "29:00" the displayed value is changed to "05:00" but the database value is 1740 (29 hours as total minutes).

Brendan Brendan · Accepted Answer · 2018-04-10T17:36:36

Found a workaround

While I need the PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute to accept negative values for all allowable formats I was able to solve the more important issue for my requirement of needing a negative value 24 hour time field (which validates the entry within -24 to +24 hours).

I found PXTimeListAttribute is a working version of PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute (when using the ShortHoursMinutesCompact format).

Benefits of using PXTimeList vs PXDBTimeSpanLong (ShortHoursMinutesCompact)

Using an int data type - no need to change the database field type. (Need to include the PXDBInt attribute with PXTimeListAttribute vs before PXDBTimeSpanLong was both)
Allows for both positive and negative numbers
Restricts the entry from within +/- 23:59

In a perfect world it would be nice to allow -24:00 to +24:00 but topic for another day.

In addition to changing the attribute used on my DAC/field I had to update the page entry for my field from a PXMaskEdit to PXTimeSpan using the following example:

Page grid - RowTemplate:

<px:PXTimeSpan ID="edMyTimeField" TimeMode="True" runat="server" DataField="MyTimeField" InputMask="hh:mm" CommitChanges="True" />

Page grid - Columns:

<px:PXGridColumn DataField="MyTimeField" Width="60px" AutoCallBack="True" RenderEditorText="True"/>

Sample usage of the attribute:

#region MyTimeField
public abstract class myTimeField : PX.Data.IBqlField
{
}
[PXDBInt]
[PXTimeList]
[PXDefault(0)]
[PXUIField(DisplayName = "My Time")]
public virtual Int32? MyTimeField { get; set; }
#endregion

PXDBTimeSpanLongAttribute to accept a negative time

1 Answers