[Greg]

I have an invoice set-up with a chain to a pick list. After the invoice finishes printing, the pick list print job starts up. However before the pick list prints it asks me for the invoice number again. Is there any way to chain the two forms together and make the printing seamless? Can the invoice number from the invoice form be passed to the pick list form as well, so an operator doesn't have to keep filling in this information?

[COBS Tech Support]

This may be simple or more complicated to do, depending on how similar the two forms are. If you have designed your forms based on the standard form templates that are created by Visual Builder, then the variables FirstTran and LastTran are used to define the transaction number range to print.

Visual Builder automatically checks for the existence of these variables, and if they exist, it will not prompt asking for this information. These variables are released (forgotten) after each print job, unless the variables are made 'global'. To do this:

1. Open the form in the Visual Builder editor.
2. Select Edit|Form Properties from the editor menu.
3. Click on Questions tab.
4. The 'First Transaction Number' question should be highlighted. If not, select it and press the edit button.
5. The first statement in the Variable Declaration box should read:

Declare FirstTran Type Transaction

Change this to read:

Declare Global FirstTran Type Transaction

6. Press Save button.
7. Select 'Last Transaction Number' question and press Edit button.
8. The first statement in the Variable Declaration box should read:

Declare LastTran Type Transaction

Change this to read:

Declare Global LastTran Type Transaction

9. Press Save button twice.
10. Select File|Save from the editor menu to save your changes.

Always make and keep back-up copies of your original forms in case you make a mistake.