OR 11.2 | Property Descriptions

Workbench User Guide > Workbench User Guide > Creating and Using Basic Fields > Common Field Properties > Property Descriptions

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Property Descriptions

AbsXLeft

Specifies the field's starting x-coordinate relative to the main form on the frame

Note: The absolute position properties (such as AbsXLeft and AbsYTop) specify position relative to the main form on the frame, while the relative position properties (such as XLeft and YTop) specify position relative to the field's immediate parent field.

AbsXRight

Specifies the field's ending x-coordinate relative to the main form

AbsYBottom

Specifies the field's starting y-coordinate relative to the main form

AbsYTop

Specifies the field's ending y-coordinate relative to the main form

AllBias

Sets the initial bias of the field for all frame modes

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

AnchorPoint

Specifies a predetermined anchor point for the field. Valid options are:

AP_NONE
AP_TOPLEFT
AP_TOPCENTER
AP_TOPRIGHT
AP_CENTERLEFT
AP_CENTER
AP_CENTERRIGHT
AP_BOTTOMLEFT
AP_BOTTOMCENTER
AP_BOTTOMRIGHT

Note: Positioning by anchor point setting occurs at runtime. Attempts to change the size of an object leaves the anchor point at its original location.

BgBitmap

If set to Bitmap, specifies the graphic image used for the field's background when the BgPattern property is set to FP_BITMAP

Default: No Bitmap

BgColor

Lets you select a color from a color palette for the form's background

Default: CC_BACKGROUND

BgPattern

Lets you select a background pattern for the field. Valid options are:

FP_BITMAP*
FP_BITMAPCLEAR*
FP_CLEAR
FP_CROSSHATCH
FP_DARKSHADE
FP_HORIZONTAL
FP_LIGHTSHADE
FP_SHADE
FP_SOLID
FP_VERTICAL
FP_DEFAULT (system default value)

Default: FP_DEFAULT

Note: *If you set this property to FP_BITMAP, you also must set the BgBitmap property to a bitmap image. If the file is a transparent bitmap, set this property to FP_BITMAPCLEAR.

ClientText

Specifies user-definable text that can be stored and accessed at runtime as an attribute of the field

ControlField

If enabled, specifies that the end user is allowed to change the displayed value in the field without affecting the underlying data (the HasDataChanged property is not changed)

Cursor

Specifies a particular mouse cursor image associated with the field. The image can either be the default cursor, a predefined system cursor, or a custom cursor.

To set a custom cursor, see Use a Custom Cursor.

DataType

Specifies the data type of the field's variable (if one exists). Valid options are:

• Varchar—variable-length text, to 4096 characters

• Nvarchar—variable-length text, to 2048 characters

• Smallint—a two-byte integer

• Integer—a four-byte integer

• Float—a decimal number

• Money

• Date

• StringObject—an unlimited-length text string

• Class

Depending on the type of field, the data type can be a simple data type, such as Date or Varchar, or it can be a class name (either a user-defined class or one of the system classes).

scalar fields

You must use a simple data type

multiline entry fields

You can select Varchar or StringObject. Selecting StringObject enables the field to hold text of an unlimited length. If you select Varchar, you must specify the maximum length of the field. Selecting any of the other data types (Smallint, Integer, Float, Money, or Date) defaults to a single-line entry field. For more information, see Single-line Entry Fields.

composite field

To be assigned a data type, the child fields of the composite must match in name and data type the user class or system class that is being assigned to it.

Note: If you are not mapping a composite field to a defined class, do not set this property.

table field

The data type must be an array of the specified class, and the names and data types of the column fields of the table field must match the names and data types of the attributes of the assigned class.

For more information about specifying data types for field variables, see the Programming Guide.

Declared

Specifies whether OpenROAD declares a variable for the field at compile time

Default: TRUE

For more information, see Field Variables and the Programming Guide.

DefaultString

Specifies the value of the field when the DefaultValue property is set to DV_STRING. If not set, OpenROAD uses the data type's default format.

DefaultValue

Specifies the default value for the data type. This property determines how OpenROAD sets the field's initial value when the frame is run. Valid options are:

DV_SYSTEM

Specifies the default value for the data type. OpenROAD system defaults are:

• null if the field is nullable

• zero for the numeric non-nullable types

• blank for character non-nullable types

For a choice field, the default is the first value in its value list. If the data type is a system class, this setting automatically allocates an object of the type associated with the class.

DV_NULL

Behaves like DV_SYSTEM except that OpenROAD does not automatically allocate an object for class data types. Instead, it sets the associated reference variable to null.

DV_STRING

Directs OpenROAD to convert the value specified for the DefaultString property to the correct data type and assign that value to the field.

Note: You cannot use DV_STRING if the data type is a class name or blank.

Note: Default: DV_SYSTEM

FgColor

Specifies the foreground color of the field

Default: CC_FOREGROUND

Note: Setting the FgColor property sets an internal value. If the field is currently in reverse, that is, the IsReverse property is set to TRUE, the current background color changes. When the field is not in reverse video, the foreground color changes.

FocusBehavior

Determines whether clicking this field causes the previous field to be exited and whether the Tab key moves the cursor to this field.

For descriptions of the available focus behaviors, see How You Can Set Focus Behavior.

Gravity

If a field is a child of a stack field or matrix field, specifies its alignment with respect to the stack field cell or matrix field cell that contains it. If a field is a child of a subform, this property specifies its alignment relative to the subform. Valid alignment options are:

FA_DEFAULT (system default value)
FA_NONE
FA_TOPCENTER
FA_TOPLEFT
FA_TOPRIGHT
FA_CENTERLEFT
FA_CENTER
FA_CENTERRIGHT
FA_BOTTOMCENTER
FA_BOTTOMLEFT
FA_BOTTOMRIGHT

Note: If a field is in a stack field or matrix field and its Gravity is FA_DEFAULT, OpenROAD uses the ChildGravity property setting for the stack field or matrix field to determine the field's position in its cell. For more information about the Gravity and ChildGravity properties, see Gravity.

Height

Specifies the height of the field, measured in 1000ths of an inch

Note: When you create a field dynamically, its size and position default to 0, so you must set some combination of properties (such as XLeft, YTop, Height, and Width) to give the field a real size and position.

IsBold

Specifies whether text is displayed in boldface. Possible values are:

TRUE

Specifies boldface

FALSE

Does not specify boldface

IsItalic

Specifies whether text is displayed in italics. Possible values are:

TRUE

Specifies italics

FALSE

Does not specify italics

IsMoveBounded

Specifies whether the end user may move child fields outside the boundary of the composite field, that is, its parent field. Possible values are:

TRUE

Specifies that the end user may move child fields outside the boundary of the composite field

FALSE

Specifies that the end user may not move child fields outside the boundary of the composite field

Default: TRUE for all composite field types except flexible forms and table fields. (This property is not available for table fields.)

Note: This property is available only when the child field has a field bias of FB_MOVEABLE and only when the end user attempts to move the field, not when the application does.

IsNullable

Specifies whether the variable can be set to null. Possible settings are:

TRUE

Specifies that the variable can be null

FALSE

Specifies that the variable cannot be null

If the data type of the field is a class, this property is always TRUE.

IsPlain

Specifies whether any text on the field is to be displayed in plain style. Possible settings are:

TRUE

Sets IsBold and IsItalic to FALSE

FALSE

Does not modify IsBold and IsItalic

IsResizeBounded

Specifies whether the end user can resize child fields within the composite field. Possible settings are:

TRUE

Specifies that the end user cannot resize child fields

FALSE

Specifies that the end user can resize child fields beyond the borders of the composite field, although they still are kept within the composite itself

Default: FALSE for all composite field types except flexible forms, subforms, and table fields. (This property is not available for table fields.)

IsReverse

Specifies whether the field is currently displayed in reverse video, which means that the BgColor value is used for all foreground elements of the field—such as text—and the FgColor value is used for the field's background. Possible values are:

TRUE

Indicates that the field is currently in reverse video

FALSE

Indicates that the field is not in reverse video

Default: FALSE

Note: TRUE does not change the values of the BgColor and FgColor properties, only the way they are used.

LayerSequence

Specifies a field's sequence number within the layering, that is, the back-to-front order of fields within the two form layers (the field layer and the shape layer). The field that is farthest in the back is numbered 1. The default is determined by the order of creation.

You can move a field or shape to the bottom of its layer by setting this property to 1, and you can move a shape or field to the top of its layer by setting LayerSequence to any value greater than or equal to the number of objects in the layer.

LineColor

Specifies the color of a line segment or the perimeter line of an ellipse or rectangle shape

Default: CC_FOREGROUND

LineStyle

Specifies the style of either a line segment or the perimeter line of an ellipse or rectangle shape. Valid options are:

LS_DEFAULT (system default value)
LS_SOLID
LS_DASH
LS_DOT
LS_DASHDOT
LS_DASHDOTDOT

The following LineStyle options are available only if the LineWidth property is set to LW_DEFAULT or LW_MINIMUM:

LS_DASH
LS_DOT
LS_DASHDOT
LS_DASHDOTDOT

LineWidth

Specifies the width of a line segment or the perimeter line of an ellipse or rectangle shape. Valid options are:

LW_DEFAULT (system default value)
LW_NOLINE
LW_MINIMUM
LW_EXTRATHIN
LW_VERYTHIN
LW_THIN
LW_MIDDLE
LW_THICK
LW_MAXIMUM

MouseDownText

Specifies the text that appears in the frame's status bar when the cursor is positioned over the field and the primary mouse button is clicked

MouseMoveText

Specifies the text that appears in the frame's status bar when the cursor moves over the field

Name

Specifies the name of the variable associated with the field. This name must be a valid OpenROAD name. You cannot have two fields with the same name (unless they belong to different composite fields with different names).

IMPORTANT! In OpenROAD, the following objects can be named: applications, classes, components, databases, database tables and columns, parameters, procedures, user events, and variables. The rules for these names, or alphanumeric identifiers, are as follows:

• Names can contain up to 32 characters.

• Names must begin with an alphabetic character or an underscore (_).

• In addition to letters and numerals, a name may contain these characters: #, @, and $.

• Names are not case sensitive.

• A name may not be a reserved word (see the 4GL Keywords section in the “System Constants and Keywords” appendix of the Language Reference Guide).

Note: You cannot change this property at runtime because 4GL cannot dynamically use different variable names for the same object.

Orientation

Specifies whether to display the field vertically or horizontally. Valid options are:

FO_DEFAULT (system default value)
FO_VERTICAL
FO_HORIZONTAL

Default: FO_VERTICAL

OuterHeight

Specifies the absolute height of a field (in 1000ths of an inch), which is a value equal to the value specified for the field's Height property plus the size of its border lines and shadows

OuterWidth

Specifies the absolute width of a field (in 1000ths of an inch), which is a value equal to the value specified for the field's Width property plus the size of its border lines and shadows

OutlineColor

Specifies the color of the border around a field or the shadow of its bounding box

Default: CC_SYS_HIGHLIGHT for tab bars; otherwise, CC_FOREGROUND

Note: If OutlineStyle is set to OS_SOLID or the OS_DEFAULT setting is treated as OS_SOLID, the OutlineColor property setting is enforced.

OutlineStyle

Specifies the style of the outline for the field. Valid options are:

OS_DEFAULT
OS_SOLID
OS_SHADOW
OS_3D
OS_STANDARD
OS_RAISED
OS_SUNKEN
OS_GROUPBOX
OS_FLAT (OptionFields only)

OutlineWidth

Specifies the width of a field's border or the shadow of its bounding box. Valid options are:

LW_DEFAULT (system default value)
LW_NOLINE
LW_MINIMUM
LW_EXTRATHIN
LW_VERYTHIN
LW_THIN
LW_MIDDLE
LW_THICK
LW_MAXIMUM

QueryBias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_QUERY

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

ReadBias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_READ.

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

RequireRealField

Specifies whether a field is associated with a widget rather than taking advantage of performance and size enhancements provided for some fields by OpenROAD. A widget is a toolkit control often associated with a field. Possible settings are:

TRUE

Allows the field to be manipulated by the Bring to Front and Send to Back commands on the Layout menu. The field appears above other active fields and behaves in a manner consistent with other fields. The field has a widget associated with it.

FALSE

Specifies that, for a single-line entry field, free trim (except one whose bias is Changeable or Landable), or a non-default button field, OpenROAD creates the field, simulating the appearance and behavior of an equivalent form object created by your toolkit

Note: The primary disadvantage of using a field without the toolkit control is that such fields appear below fields created by the toolkit (real fields). Therefore, attempts to overlap real fields with those simulated by OpenROAD fail. If layering is important and speed improvements achieved by using nonreal fields, consider grouping sets of fields inside of subforms or flexible forms. For more detailed information about toolkit controls and layering fields, see the Programming Guide.

Default: FALSE (except for box trim fields)

SeparatorColor

Specifies the color of the lines that separate matrix field or stack field components

Default: CC_FOREGROUND

SeparatorStyle

Specifies the style of the lines that separate matrix field or stack field components. Valid options are:

LS_DEFAULT (system default value)
LS_SOLID
LS_DASH
LS_DOT
LS_DASHDOT
LS_DASHDOTDOT

SeparatorWidth

Specifies the width of the lines that separate matrix field or stack field components. Valid options are:

LW_DEFAULT (system default value)
LW_NOLINE
LW_MINIMUM
LW_EXTRATHIN
LW_VERYTHIN
LW_THIN
LW_MIDDLE
LW_THICK
LW_MAXIMUM

Default: LW_DEFAULT

TabSeqNum

Directs the order in which fields within a composite field receive input focus from the keyboard as the Tab key is pressed. Depending on this setting, the field will be inserted in the existing tab sequence at the specified location. For more information, see Tab Sequencing.

ToolTipText

Specifies descriptive text that is displayed when the end user points to a field with the cursor

TypeFace

Specifies the typeface for any text that is displayed on a field. Valid options are:

TF_SYSTEM (system font)
TF_COURIER
TF_HELVETICA
TF_LUCIDA
TF_NEWCENTURY
TF_TIMESROMAN
TF_NATIVE_FONT

TypeFaceName

Specifies any valid font name that can be set here when TypeFace is TF_NATIVE_FONT

TypeSize

Sets the point size for a specified typeface

UpdateBias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_UPDATE.

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

User1Bias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_USER1.

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

User2Bias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_USER2.

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

User3Bias

Specifies the bias of the field when the frame's CurMode property is set to FM_USER3.

For more information on field biases and frame modes, see Field Biases.

ValueList

Specifies the items displayed by a choice field (that is, list field, list view, option field, radio field, or palette field) and their corresponding integer values using the Value List dialog

Note: For more information, see Add and Delete List Field Items. Also see the ChoiceField class topic in the Language Reference Guide.

Width

Specifies the width of the field in 1000ths of an inch

XAnchorPoint

Used with the YAnchorPoint property to position a field by setting relevant anchor point values. Its value represents a position that is relative to the field's parent. Changes to XLeft, YTop, AbsXLeft, or AbsYTop modify the associated values of XAnchorPoint (and YAnchorPoint) and vice versa.

XLeft

Specifies the x-coordinate (in 1000ths of an inch) of the left side of the field's bounding rectangle, relative to the field's parent.

Default: 0

Most fields are rectangular in shape. A bounding rectangle is the rectangular outer boundary of a field. For non-rectangular fields such as ellipses and line segments, the bounding rectangle is the smallest rectangle that can contain the field. Every field has a parent field (a composite field); this is true because the form itself is a composite field.

Notes:

• When you create a field dynamically, its size and position default to 0, so you must set some combination of properties (such as XLeft, YTop, Height, and Width) to give the field a real size and position.

• The relative position properties (such as XLeft and YTop) specify position relative to the field's immediate parent field, while the absolute position properties (such as AbsXLeft and AbsYTop) specify position relative to the main form on the frame.

XRight

Specifies the x-coordinate (in 1000ths of an inch) of the right side of the field's bounding rectangle, relative to the field's parent

Default: 0

Note: For more information about bounding rectangles, see the XLeft property.

YAnchorPoint

Used in conjunction with the XAnchorPoint property to position a field by setting relevant anchor point values. Its value represents a position that is relative to the field's parent. Changes to XLeft, YTop, AbsXLeft, or AbsYTop modify the associated values of YAnchorPoint (and XAnchorPoint) and vice versa.

YBottom

Specifies the y-coordinate (in 1000ths of an inch) of the bottom of the field's bounding rectangle, relative to the field's parent.

Default: 0

Note: For more information about bounding rectangles, see the XLeft property.

YTop

Specifies the y-coordinate (in 1000ths of an inch) of the top of the field's bounding rectangle, relative to the field's parent.

Default: 0

Note: For more information about bounding rectangles, see the XLeft property.

Last modified date: 12/20/2023