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dynamic - Dialog notebook with multiple popup menus


I'm trying to create a user interface in Mathematica; the user will enter specified information, it will be processed, and then data will be inserted into a MySQL database. The pieces work independently but when I put them together, odd things happen.


So for example, this works:



Module[{ss, flist},
 flist = {"f1", "f2", "f3"};
 ss = First[flist];
 CreateWindow[DialogNotebook[{
    PopupMenu[Dynamic[ss], flist],
    ChoiceButtons[{"Enter", "Cancel"}, {DialogReturn[{Print["ss: ", ss]}]}]}]];
];

But the following, which seems to be substantially identical, does not. Specifically, if the user doesn't select something new from the popup menus, the variables never get initialized.


Module[{ss, flist, ci, clist},

 flist = {"f1", "f2", "f3"};
 clist = {"c1", "c2", "c3"};
 ss = First[flist];
 ci = First[clist];
 CreateWindow[DialogNotebook[{
    PopupMenu[Dynamic[ss], flist],
    PopupMenu[Dynamic[ci], clist],
    ChoiceButtons[{"Enter", "Cancel"}, {DialogReturn[{Print["ss: ", ss, ". ci: ", ci]}]}]}]];
 ];


What am I missing?



Answer



I suppose the it is expected and it happens because after prompting a DialogNotebook the evaluation of Module is finished and a Temporary attribute of its variables is kicking in.


Why the first example works the second doesn't? I don't know but how a Temporary attribute works is not documented well.





  • One way to make it work is to use kernel blocking dialog (Input, DialogInput, ChoiceDialog) to not finish Module before DialogReturn[]:


    Module[{ss, flist, ci, clist}, 
      flist = {"f1", "f2", "f3"};   clist = {"c1", "c2", "c3"};

      ss = First[flist];   ci = First[clist];

      DialogInput[
         Column@{
           PopupMenu[Dynamic[ss], flist], 
           PopupMenu[Dynamic[ci], clist], 
           ChoiceButtons[
               {"Enter", "Cancel"}, 
               {DialogReturn[{Print["ssd: ", ss, ". cid: ", ci]}]}
           ]

         }
      ];
    ]

    Notice the red syntax highlighting over Dynamic[ss] and Dynamic[c1]. It's because it's good habit to not to use Module's variables inside Dynamics inner to them [1]. Here it should not harm but I'd use the second approach anyway:




  • Pass Module's variables to the Dialog and forget about old Module.


    Module[{ss, flist, ci, clist}, 
       flist = {"f1", "f2", "f3"}; clist = {"c1", "c2", "c3"};

       ss = First[flist]; ci = First[clist];

       CreateWindow[ DialogNotebook[ DynamicModule[
         {ssd = ss, cid = ci}
         ,
         Column@{
            PopupMenu[Dynamic[ssd], flist], 
            PopupMenu[Dynamic[cid], clist], 
            ChoiceButtons[
              {"Enter", "Cancel"}, 

              {DialogReturn[{Print["ssd: ", ssd, ". cid: ", cid]}]}
            ]
         }
        ]]];
       ]



[1] "Module variables should never appear inside Dynamics ... internal to that Module." - John Fultz


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