Automating input

Preventing users from entering bad data is one way to improve the quality of their output; another approach is to automate the entry of data wherever the values are predictable. Using our understanding of how the forms are likely to be filled out, we can insert values that are very likely to be correct for certain fields.

Remember from Chapter 2, Designing GUI Applications, that the forms are nearly always recorded the same day that they're filled out, starting with Plot 1 and going to Plot 20 in order for each paper form.

Also remember that the Date, Time, Lab, and Technician values remain the same for each form that is filled in. That gives us the possibility of implementing some helpful automation, specifically:

• The current date can automatically be inserted in the Date field
• If the previous Plot was not the last plot in the lab, we can increment its value and leave the Time, Technician, and Lab values the same

Let's...