EntryField Class

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EntryField Class

The EntryField class represents a field into which the user can enter data. Depending on the data type defined for the field, the data can be character, numeric, or date. An entry field can display either a single line or multiple lines for user entry, depending on the setting of the IsMultiLine attribute.

A single-line entry field:

• Can have an associated variable of any valid scalar type

• Allows the data in the fields to scroll horizontally

• Considers newline and tab characters as field exit commands

Note: If a default button is defined for the frame, then a newline character executes the event block for the default button. The user may or may not exit the field, depending on the code in the event block.

• Supports the use of format templates to control data entry

• Does not require a toolkit control to be associated with it

Unless a toolkit control is associated with the field, it always displays at the bottom of the field stack unless it has the input focus. When the field has the input focus, it appears at the top of the field stack until focus is removed. This behavior can be changed by setting the RequireRealField attribute (see RequireRealField Attribute), which associates a toolkit control with the field.

A multiline entry field:

• Can have an associated variable only of the varchar or StringObject data type

• Scrolls the data in the field vertically

• Automatically provides word wrap

• Considers the newline and the tab as valid input to be included in the text and counted as characters

• Allows large amounts of text

• Provides an extended keyboard interface, following

Key	Description
Left arrow	Moves caret one character left. (The caret does not move up to the line above when the beginning of the line is reached.)
Right arrow	Moves caret one character right. (The caret does not move down to the line below when the end of the line is reached.)
Up arrow	Moves caret one line up
Down arrow	Moves caret one line down
Page up	Scrolls one window up
Page down	Scrolls one window down
Home	Moves caret to the beginning of the current line
End	Moves caret to the end of the current line
Ctrl+Left arrow	Moves caret one word left
Ctrl+Right arrow	Moves caret one word right
Ctrl+Home	Moves caret to the beginning of the text
Ctrl+End	Moves caret to the end of the text

To leave a multiline entry field, the user can use the mouse to click another field, use Ctrl+Tab to go to the next field in the tab sequence, or use Shift+Tab to go to the previous field in the tab sequence. All entry fields let the user select and delete text using the mouse.

When you use a StringObject value in association with an entry field, you must use the UpdField method (inherited from ActiveField) on the field to display any runtime changes to the field.

Inherits From

Object Class (see Object Class)

FieldObject Class (see FieldObject Class)

FormField Class (see FormField Class)

ActiveField Class (see ActiveField Class)

ScalarField Class (see ScalarField Class)

Inherited By

BoxTrim

FreeTrim

Attributes

BufferString

BufferText

CharsPerLine

CurMarkedText

CursorPosition

ExactWidth

ExitBehavior

FirstMarked

ForceCase

FormatString

HasHorizontalScrollBar

HasScrollBar

InputMasking

IsBold

IsItalic

IsMandatory

IsMultiLine

IsPassword

IsPlain

IsUnderlined

LastMarked

Lines

MaxCharacters

StringValue

TextLength

TextValue

TypeFace

TypeFaceName

TypeSize

UseWidestCharacter

Methods

MarkAllText

MarkSubText

UnmarkAllText