Control - Grid column (edit period)

This topic describes the associated properties of the Grid column (edit period) control.

Column Heading

This property shows the type of column heading associated with the data item that has been added to a grid control. The column heading types are:

  • System Text
  • Language Specific Text
  • Data Dictionary Text

System Text

Allows you to specify whether the data item label or description should be used on the form. By default a label displays its label and a grid column heading displays its description.

Width

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

Fg Colour

Select any system color you want as a foreground color for your selected control. The Use Windows Systems Color box refers to colors specified in your Windows Desktop settings, which are user specific. However, if you wish to select a fixed color from the standard palette, deselect the Use Windows Systems Colour check box and select the desired color.

Note: Changing the foreground and background color within the frame properties on the Properties bar, only changes the frame caption, not the frame itself.

Bg Colour

Select any system color you want as a background color for your selected control. The Use Windows Systems Colour box refers to colors specified in your Windows Desktop settings, which are user specific. However, if you wish to select a fixed color from the standard palette, uncheck the Use Windows Systems Colour check box and select the desired color.

Alt Fg Colour

Select any system color as an alternative foreground color for your selected control. You can choose from a wider selection of colors by unchecking the Use Windows System Colours box. The default system color depends on the type of control being used.

Alt Bg Colour

Select any system color as an alternative background color for your selected control. You can choose from a wider selection of colors by unchecking the Use Windows System Colours box. The default system color depends on the type of control being used.

Justification

This property allows you to change the justification of the text within the control. The options are Near or Far.

Enabled

False for non-entry items and cannot be changed. This property is initially set to This property indicates whether the control is editable at runtime. This property is 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 CopyThis property indicates whether the control is editable at runtime. This property is set to 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.

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.