Control - Edit box (date)

This topic describes the associated properties of the Edit box (date) control.

X Position

This property specifies the x co-ordinate of the control relative to its parent and is specified in pixels.

Y Position

This property specifies the y co-ordinate of the control relative to its parent and is specified in pixels.

Width

This is the width of the control, specified in pixels.

Enabled

This property indicates whether the control is editable at runtime. This property is set to False for non-entry items and cannot be changed. This property is initially set to True for entry data items but can be changed to False, if required. When the property is False controls at runtime are always read-only.

Note: If you change the colors for controls which are not enabled, the colors will not be visible at runtime.

Hidden

This property indicates whether the control is hidden at runtime. If you set this property to true the selected control is not shown at runtime. This property can be used to limit the permissions of certain controls for various operator groups.

Validation Program

External Developers Only

This property allows you to add your own validation to data items, in addition to the built in system validation. Within the property enter the name of your .DLL file. Please note that the external validation program is always executed before the SunSystems internal validation.

Validation Method

External Developers Only

The Validation Method property is only available when a validation program has been specified. The validation method is a textual reference that can be called by the validation program. This property can be left blank.

Auto Copy

Set the Auto Copy property to true if, during run-time, you want the data value of a particular control to be automatically copied to the next new record. It is recommended that Auto Copy is enabled on those data items where the run time value is likely to remain consistent, for example analysis codes. During run-time a user can change the copied value, so that this then becomes the duplicated value when the next new record is created/inserted. Auto Copy does not apply when records are edited using the Amend action. The Auto Copy also overrides the Default Value property, if set.

Note: You should not use Auto Copy on those data items that act as the primary key.

Display As

This property states how a selected data item is to be displayed. The pull down list shows the three options available, you can have the control displayed as its default control type at runtime, a Simple Label or a Label with Border. If you choose to have one of the dynamic label options for the Display As property at runtime, the control will appear as a label on the form.

Date Format

This property is the format of the date for display. The options available are:

  • SunSystems Default
  • USA (mm/dd/yy)
  • UK (dd/mm/yy)
  • Asian (yy/mm/dd).

Year Size

This property specifies whether the year is displayed with two or four digits.

Mandatory

If you require a control to be mandatory you can change the value of this property from False to True, but you cannot change a True value to False.

Failure to enter a value in a mandatory field results in a warning message being displayed and you are unable to continue.