class ColumnEditor
An expandable editor object in a grid column used to enter or display data from memo, text blob or character fields.
Syntax
These controls are created by assigning the appropriate editorType to the GridColumn object.
Properties
The following tables list the properties and events of interest in the ColumnEditor class. (No methods are associated with this class.)
|
Property |
Default |
Description |
|
COLUMNEDITOR |
Identifies the object as an instance of the ColumnEditor class | |
|
(COLUMNEDITOR) |
Identifies the object as an instance of a custom class. When no custom class exists, defaults to baseClassName | |
|
|
The color of the text in the ColumnEdItor object when the object has focus | |
|
WindowText |
The color of the text in the ColumnEditor object when the object does not have focus | |
|
8 |
The height of the ColumnEditor's dropdown editing window. The dropDownHeight property's value is in units matching the metric of the columnEditor's parent Form. | |
|
true |
Whether or not to apply embedded formatting tags when displaying the contents of the columnEditor's datalinked field. | |
|
|
The value currently displayed in the ColumnEditor object | |
|
true |
Whether to word-wrap the text in the ColumnEditor control.
| |
|
Event |
Parameters |
Description |
|
<char expN>, |
When a key is pressed. Return value may change or cancel keystroke. | |
|
|
When attempting to remove focus. Must return true, or focus remains.
|
The following table lists the common properties and events of the ColumnEditor class:
|
Property |
|
Event |
Method |
|
fontBold
|
none |
Description
A ColumnEditor object provides functionality similar to that of an Editor object, but in a grid cell. A ColumnEditor may be datalinked (via its parent gridColumn object) to a memo field, a text type blob field, or a character field.
When a ColumnEditor object has focus, a button is displayed which can be used to open an expanded, or drop-down window, in which to view or edit data. Clicking the mouse outside the expanded editor window, or pressing tab or shift-tab, will close the window.
When not expanded, ColumnEditor objects initially display the first non-blank line of data from its datalinked field. This is to make it easier for a user to determine what, if any, data has been entered into the field.
To enter or edit data in a ColumnEditor object:
Give it focus by clicking on it with a left mouse button, or by using the tab or arrow keys to move to it within the grid object.
Position the mouse where you wish to begin typing, and again click the left mouse button to display an insertion point. Alternatively you can just press any text key on the keyboard to begin entering text. Once the ColumnEditor has an insertion point it is said to be in "edit mode". When the ColumnEditor is in edit mode, the arrow keys will only work to scroll within the ColumnEditor.
To exit the ColumnEditor:
Click outside the ColumnEditor's cell
or
Navigate your way out using the tab, or shift-tab, keys.
Altering column dimensions
You may widen a ColumnEditor by widening its grid column.
You may change the height of a ColumnEditor's grid cell, to display more than one line of data in the grid cell, by changing the grid's cellHeight property.
You may change the height of a ColumnEditor's expanded window by changing its dropDownHeight value.
The expanded window will not expand beyond the edge of the ColumnEditor's Form or Subform.
Formatting text
When the ColumnEditor is contained within a Form whose mdi property is set to true, the Format Toolbar may be used to apply various formatting options to the text. To access the Format Toolbar:
Give the ColumnEditor focus
Right click on it to popup a context sensitive menu
Select "Show Format Toolbar"
By default, a ColumnEditor will apply any formatting embedded in its datalinked field, when displaying data. To turn this off:
Set the ColumnEditor's evalTags property to false
or
Uncheck "Apply Formatting" via it's right-click popup menu.