Progress
Language Tutorial
for Windows
Summary
This chapter covered the language elements used to define general widget characteristics as well as the specific elements used to define data widgets.
Defining Widget Characteristics
Progress provides different methods for determining the characteristics of widgets. When you can use the different methods depends of the stage of the widget:
- Widget definition — For variables, the DEFINE VARIABLE statement supports the VIEW-AS phrase and other options to define the major characteristics of a widget. For database fields, the Data Dictionary supports properties which correspond to all the options of the DEFINE VARIABLE statement.
- Container definition — When you define your frames and dialog boxes, you specify the widgets found in those containers and define the characteristics of the widget with the format phrase. The DEFINE FRAME statement also supports the frame phrase, which has options that modify the characteristics of the widgets contained in the frame.
- Before display — Progress screen I/O statements support both the format phrase and the frame phrase.
- After display — After a widget appears on screen, you access widget attributes directly to redefine widget characteristics.
Programming Widgets
Data widgets are representation of database fields or variables. The data widgets include:
- Fill-in field — The default widget representation for all fields and variables. It presents data as modifiable text.
- Text widget — Basically a fill-in field for read-only data. Text widgets are useful because they take up less room than fill-ins on some operating platforms and in reports.
- Toggle box — A graphical representation of a logical field or variable. You program toggle boxes so that a filled or checked toggle box represents a TRUE value and an empty toggle box represents a FALSE value.
- Radio set — A graphical representation of a field or variable that has a limited number of possible values. Only one value can be true at a time.
- Slider — A graphical representation of an INTEGER field or variable value and the acceptable range of values. By moving a slide along the range, the user manipulates the current value.
- Selection list — Presents the user with a scrolling list of possible values for a CHARACTER field or variable.
- Combo box — A combination of a read-only fill-in field, a button, and a drop-down selection list. Choosing the button displays the drop-down list of possible values, which the user manipulates like a selection list.
- Editor — A large rectangular area for displaying and editing long text.
You can create ToolTip information for all of the data widgets previously listed.
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