Text Box - Kalipso

Contents Index

Text Box

An Input Box is a frame that can contain text. Unlike Labels, an Input Box can be editable. You can link an Input Box to the Database. An Input Box can interact with the user through its Events. You should use this Control when you want to allow the user to edit text.

Value - Its value is the displayed value.

Properties - General

GENERAL

Name – Name of the Control
This Name will be used to identify the Control throughout the Project. The name of the Control can only contain letters, digits or underscore (_).

Text – Text to be displayed in the Control
If you click on

at the right side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value in each Language of the Project.

Description – Description of the Control
This Description is for your information only, Kalipso does nothing with it. If you click on

at the side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value in each Language of the Project.

Plane – Plane of the Form where the Control should be created
Check the Planes chapter for more information.

Width – Width of the Control
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action. If you click on

at the side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value of it in both Portrait and Landscape orientation (see the Project Properties).

Height – Height of the Control
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action. If you click on

at the side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value of it in both Portrait and Landscape orientation (see the Project Properties).

From Left – X position of the Control
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action. If you click on

at the side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value of it in both Portrait and Landscape orientation (see the Project Properties).

From Top – Y position of the Control
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action. If you click on

at the side of this property, you’ll be able to set the value of it in both Portrait and Landscape orientation (see the Project Properties).

Input Type – Type of Input Box

- Alpha: The Input Box will accept alphanumeric chars.
- Numeric: The Input Box will only accept numeric chars.
- Date: The Input Box will only accept a valid date written in the format defined by the “Display Mask” property. If the date isn’t valid, the Input Box gets empty when it loses focus.
- Time: The Input Box will only accept a valid time written in the format defined by the “Display Mask” property. If the time isn’t valid, the Input Box gets empty when it loses focus.
- Timestamp: The Input Box will accept alphanumeric chars, but when refreshed, will fill with a composition of “Prefix” property plus a date in format YYYYMMDD and a time in format HHMMSSMMM.
- Terminal ID: The Input Box will accept alphanumeric chars, but when refreshed, will fill withthe identification number defined in KConfig.exe.
- Password: The Input Box will accept alphanumeric chars, but only shows asterisks (*).
- DateTime: The Input Box will only accept a valid date and time written in the format defined by the “Display Mask” property. If the date and time isn’t valid, the Input Box gets empty when it loses focus.

Default Value – Default Value displayed in the Input Box
This is the initial value of the Input Box. No validation whatsoever is made over this value.

Hint Text – Value displayed while the Input Box is empty
This property is not displayed on Windows Mobile/CE devices.

Max. Length – Maximum length of the text inputted
This property is displayed only if the “Input Type” property is set to ‘Alpha’.

Multiline – Set the Input Box with multiline ability or not
This property is displayed only if the “Input Type” property is set to ‘Alpha’. If set, this property causes a scroll bar to be displayed in the Input Box at right.

STYLE

Font – Font of the displayed Text

Size – Font size of the displayed Text

Properties – Font properties of the displayed Text

Font Color – Font color of the displayed Text
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action.

Backg. Color – Background color of the Control
You can set this value is runtime via the “Set Property” Action. You can retrieve this value in runtime via the “Get Property” Action.

Text Pos. – Position of the value inside the Control.
Note: In WindowsCE/Mobile this is only supported if the Input Box is Multiline.

Border – To set or remove the frame around the Control

None – No border is displayed
Standard – A frame is displayed around the Control
Customized – You're able to to define several parameters regarding the frame to be drawn

Border Color – Color of the frame to be drawn around the Control
Line Thickness – Thickness of the frame to be drawn around the Control
Rounded Corners – Allows to specify how the corners of the frame drawn around the Control should be drawn

No – The corners of the frame drawn around the Control will be 90 degrees (rectangle)

Rounded Tops – Instead of drawing each corner, a semicircle is drawn in each top (left and right)

Specify Radius – Allows you to specify the radius of the semicircle to be draw in each corner of the Control

Radius – Radius of the semicircle to be draw in each corner of the Control

You can activate or deactivate the Border through “Set Property” Action. You can know if it's active or not in runtime via the “Get Property” Action.

Properties - Links

Source – Origin of the data to show in the Input Box

- Nothing: Empty Input Box (depends on the “Input Type” property).
- Database Table: Connect the Input Box with a Column of a Database Table.
- Expression: Fill the Input Box with the result of an Expression.

Source: Database Table

There are two ways of connecting your Input Box to a Database Table therefore presenting the value of a specific Column.

1 – You can do it by simply defining the "Table" and "Column" properties and then using the "First Record"/"Last Record"/"Next Record"/"Previous Record" and "Refresh"/"Refresh Plane"/"Refresh Control" Actions.

2 – The other way is to implicitly define a "Select" statement. To do so, you have to define the "Table", "Column", "Where the value of" and "It’s equal to" properties then use the Refresh", "Refresh Plane" or "Refresh Control" Action. This way you are telling Kalipso to perform a "Select" statement like this:

Select <Column> from <Table> where <Where the value of> = <It’s equal to>

Source: Expression

Fill the Control with the result of – Expression whom result will be shown in the Input Box

For the Expression to be evaluated and fill the Input Box you’ll have to perform a "Refresh", "Refresh Plane" or "Refresh Control" Action.

Target

Mandatory – To define if the Input Box must be filled or not when performing a “Create Record”, “Update Record” or “Create/Update Record” Action.

If this property is set, when Kalipso tries to use the value of this Input Box for executing one of the above Actions, it checks if the value is non empty; if it’s not, Kalipso will produce an automatic error message.

Global Variable – Global Variable where to store the Input Box value;

Local Variable – Local Variable where to store the Input Box value;

Database Table – Table where to store the Input Box value;

Database Column – Column where to store the Input Box value;

The Input Box value is retrieved and stored in the corresponding Database Table and Column when you execute a Create Record”, “Update Record” or “Create/Update Record” Action on the “Database Table”.

Shortcuts

F2 – Actions

F3 – General properties