Form Fields in ZimIDE – Page 2 – 4GL APPLICATION FRAMEWORK

The Label

Main Characteristics of Labels

A label form field is the only form field object that is not addressable from the Zim language. Labels contain constant text only and are used for adding explanatory text to the form being designed. Label text can span multiple lines (and can include the “Hard Return” character Ctrl+Enter). The label text can also be justified left, centered, or right. To create a multi-line label form field, adjust its vertical size.

Label Attributes

– Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).

– Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Fill Character	” “	The character used to fill blank spaces in this form field.
Label	???	The label text which appears inside or along the top border of the form field; A character in the label will be underlined if there is an ampersand (&) immediately before it.
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.

– Behavior

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Anchoring	Top, Left	When the window associated with this form field’s parent form is resized: Top → The top edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the top edge of the window; Bottom → The bottom edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the bottom edge of the window; Left → The left edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the left edge of the window; Right → The right edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the right edge of the window; None → The same as Top, Left.
Auto Size	None-Clipped	None-Clipped → The image in this form field object will be displayed in its original size anchored at the top-left corner of the object. If the image is wider or taller than the object, it will be clipped horizontally or vertically to fit within the object; Image to Object → The image will occupy the entire area of the object but its aspect ratio will not be preserved; Image Proportional → The image will be scaled and centered within the object and its aspect ratio will be preserved; Object to Image → The object will be scaled to fit the image in its original size. The object cannot be resized.
Docking	None	Top → The top edge of the form field will be expanded and placed; Bottom → ; Left → ; Right → ; Fill → ; None → This form field.

– Colors

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Background Color	variable	The background color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values;
Foreground Color	variable	The foreground color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values.
Inherit Background Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the background color of its parent container or parent form object.
Inherit Foreground Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the foreground color of its parent container or parent form object.

– Properties

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Justification	None	The justification applied to the contents of this form field: Left or None → the contents will be displayed left-aligned; Right → the contents will be displayed right-aligned; Center → the contents will be displayed centered.
Tab Index	0	The relative position of this form field in the tab sequence order for its parent container or form field; 0 → The relative position of the form field in the structure chart will be used instead.
Z-Order	>= 10001	The relative depth of this form field in relation to other form fields within the same parent container or form.

– Style

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Border Style	variable	None; Single Line; 3D; Beveled-In; Beveled-Out
Font	Microsoft Sans Serif, 8pt	The font in which text will be displayed inside this form field.
Name	Microsoft Sans Serif	The system name of the selected font.
Size	8	The size of the font in units. (Point is the default unit);
Bold	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in bold.
Italic	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in italic.
Strikeout	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear with a line across.
Underline	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear underlined.
Inherit Font	False	True → This form field will inherit all the Font attributes from its parent (form, frame or tab control).

The Graphic Object

Main Characteristics of Graphic Objects

Graphic form fields are commonly used for constructing diagrams. A variety of graphic types are supported, including both closed figures and lines. The closed figure graphics are “rectangle”, “rounded rectangle”, “ellipse” and “diamond”. Horizontal and vertical lines are also supported.

Graphic Object Attributes

– Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).

– Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.

– Colors

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Background Color	variable	The background color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values;
Foreground Color	variable	The foreground color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values.
Inherit Background Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the background color of its parent container or parent form object.
Inherit Foreground Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the foreground color of its parent container or parent form object.

– Style

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Graphic Style	Horizontal	The shape of this graphic object: Horizontal → Horizontal line; Vertical → Vertical line; Rectangle → Rectangle (includes square); Ellipse → Ellipse (includes circle); Diamond → Diamond.
Line Width	1	The line width in points. Hairline → The line width will be always one pixel wide.

The Entry Field

Main Characteristics of Entry Fields

Entry form fields are most commonly used for displaying data to the end user, accepting data from the application end-user, or both. The data length of an entry field is independent of its physical dimensions. If the width of the entry field is too small to display all its associated data, the data can be scrolled left and right within the entry field object. Entry fields can also be defined as multi-line fields with or without associated vertical scroll bars. It this case, the data content is automatically wrapped within the physical width of the field. Entry fields can also be assigned alphabetic case adjustment options, justification options, validation rules, and both display and input data masks.

All the different availability attributes can be assigned to entry fields. Unavailable entry fields have their data content displayed in the “inactive text” color. Protected entry fields have their data content displayed in the “active text” color. Guarded entry fields have their data content displayed in the “active text” color and can be scrolled left and right (plus up and down for multi-line fields). Available entry fields have their data content displayed in the “active text” color, can be scrolled left and right (plus up and down for multi-line fields) and can have their data content modified by the application end-user.

Entry Field Attributes

Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Field Number	0	A number that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; Value must be an integer between 0 and 999;
Field Tag	“”	A string that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; If left blank, the Zim IDE will assign the value of Field Name to Field Tag.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Help Message	“”	A help message that will be displayed when this form field or this menu item receives input focus; Displayed in the status bar of the window associated with the parent form of this form field (if the window object’s Status Bar attribute is set to True); Displayed in a message field if one such field exists in the parent form of this form field.

Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Customized Pointer	default	The pointer (or cursor) style when the pointer is hovering over (or the cursor is inside) an available form field; May be selected from the following choices in the list box: Arrow → the standard arrow cursor; Cross-hair → ; I-Beam → ; Icon → ; Resize → ; Size NE SW → ; Size NS → ; Size NW SE → ; Size WE → ; Up Arrow → ; Hourglass → ; default → The pointer style will be I-Beam for Entry Field and Arrow for all other form fields.
Fill Character	” “	The character used to fill blank spaces in this form field.
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Multi-Line	False	True → This Entry Field will display its contents in multiples lines; Note: When set to True, the Visible Lines attribute becomes available and determines the number of lines that will appear in the Entry Field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Scroll Bars	True	True → This window will have scroll bars; Scroll bars will appear when this window hosts an object (form or display) whose dimensions are larger than its own.
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.
Visible Lines	1	The number of visible lines in this entry field, list box or combination list box.

Behavior

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Anchoring	Top, Left	When the window associated with this form field’s parent form is resized: Top → The top edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the top edge of the window; Bottom → The bottom edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the bottom edge of the window; Left → The left edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the left edge of the window; Right → The right edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the right edge of the window; None → The same as Top, Left.
Auto Select	False	True → The contents or state of this form field will be automatically highlighted when it receives input focus.
Auto Skip	False	True → The input focus will automatically skip to the next available form field after the value or state of this form field has been modified.
Docking	None	Top → The top edge of the form field will be expanded and placed; Bottom → ; Left → ; Right → ; Fill → ; None → This form field.

Callback Events

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
All Callback Events		When any of the following callback event attributes is set to True, this form field will be able to trigger the corresponding callback event; After the event is triggered, the form input command will be terminated and the following values will populate the Event Vector: Event.EventType = “FormField”; Event.EventTag = the form field’s Field Tag attribute; Additional values relative to specific callback events (see below); Note: Callback events can only be triggered by a form field if it is available and contained in a form that has input focus.
Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “Click” added to the Event Vector.
Double Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is double-clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “DoubleClick” added to the Event Vector.
Got Focus	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to acquire the input focus; Event.EventName = “GotFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (Always)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus; Event.EventName = “LostFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (When Modified)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus after its value has been modified (cf. Modified below); Event.EventName = “LostFocusModified” added to the Event Vector.
Modified	False	Triggered when the value or state of this form field is modified by a left mouse button click; Event.EventName = “Modified” added to Event Vector.
Right Click	False	Triggered when the right mouse button is clicked on or inside this form field; Event.EventName = “RightClick” added to the Event Vector.

Colors

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Background Color	variable	The background color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values;
Foreground Color	variable	The foreground color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values.
Inherit Background Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the background color of its parent container or parent form object.
Inherit Foreground Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the foreground color of its parent container or parent form object.

Masking

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Compress Mask	False	The data value delivered to the variable corresponding to this form field includes the data value typed by the end-user: False → and also includes the mask characters; True → but does not include the mask characters.
Display Mask	“”	The character mask used when data is displayed in this entry field.
Input Mask	“”	The character mask used when data is being typed in this entry field.
Suppress	False	Each character typed into this entry field is displayed as: False → the character itself. True → the asterisk character (); Note: This option is often used for password* entry fields;

Properties

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Availability	Available	The way in which the end-user will interact with this form field: Available → This form field can receive input focus and its contents can be modified; Unavailable → This form field cannot receive input focus and its contents cannot be modified; Guarded → This form field can receive input focus but its contents cannot be modified; Protected → This form field cannot receive input focus, its contents cannot be modified and it will appear grayed-out;
Case	Mixed	The case in which the data contents of this form field will be displayed: Mixed → The data will be presented in its original case; Upper → The data will be displayed in upper case; Lower → The data will be displayed in lower case.
Data Type	Alphanumeric	The data type of this form field: Alphanumeric → May contain letters, digits and punctuation; Non-Digit → May contain all characters except digits; Numeric → May contain digits, decimal point, plus and minus signs; Date → May contain digits according to the form specified in Input Mask;
Default Data Value	“”	The default data value of this form field.
Length	20	The length of the data displayed in this form field
Justification	None	The justification applied to the contents of this form field: Left or None → the contents will be displayed left-aligned; Right → the contents will be displayed right-aligned; Center → the contents will be displayed centered.
Tab Index	0	The relative position of this form field in the tab sequence order for its parent container or form field; 0 → The relative position of the form field in the structure chart will be used instead.
Tab Stop	True	True → This form field will be included in the tab order for its parent container or form; False →
Z-Order	>= 10001	The relative depth of this form field in relation to other form fields within the same parent container or form.

Style

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Border Style	variable	None; Single Line; 3D; Beveled-In; Beveled-Out
Font	Microsoft Sans Serif, 8pt	The font in which text will be displayed inside this form field.
Name	Microsoft Sans Serif	The system name of the selected font.
Size	8	The size of the font in units. (Point is the default unit);
Bold	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in bold.
Italic	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in italic.
Strikeout	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear with a line across.
Underline	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear underlined.
Inherit Font	False	True → This form field will inherit all the Font attributes from its parent (form, frame or tab control).

Validation

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Accept Abreviations	False	False → The data value entered into this form field or the value of the selected list item must always completely match a validation rule; True → The data value entered into this form field or the value of the selected list item can partially match a validation rule; For example: if the validation rule for this field were AAA9999, a data value of AAA1 would be accepted for Val_Accept_Abreviations = True, but rejected for Val_Accept_Abreviations = False.
Blank is NULL	False	True → a blank value (“”) in this form field will be translated to the Zim null value (*$Null*).
Error Message	“”	An error message that will be displayed when the entered or selected value in this form field fails the Validation Rule; Displayed in the status bar of the window associated with the parent form of this form field (if the window object’s Status Bar attribute is set to True); Displayed in a message field if one such field exists in the parent form of this form field;
Minimum Input Length	0	The minimum number of characters that: must be entered into this form field, or the minimum number of characters in a selected list item for the combo box data value to be valid.
Validation Rule	“”	The data validation rule that defines a legal value for this form field.
Value Required	“”	No → A blank value (“”) in this form field is accepted as valid input; Yes → A non-blank value must be entered or selected in this form field before is parent form can lose input focus; Immediate → a non-blank value must be entered or selected in this form field before the form field itself can lose input focus.

The Combination List Box

Main Characteristics of Combination List Boxes

A combo box form field behaves like a combination of a list box and an entry field.

Combo boxes are commonly used for presenting a fixed number of choices to the application end-user from which one can be selected, or the end-user can enter a value that is not a member of the list.

They also provide a convenient mechanism for presenting these choices in the form of descriptive text rather than as codes.

Combo boxes have an assignable data type and data length. The default members of the list can be defined as a sequence of strings separated by the semi-colon (;) character.

The default value for the combo box can also be defined; if this value matches a member of the list, then that list item appears in the entry field component and is also highlighted in the list. The number of visible lines for a combo box defines the number of list members that are exposed. The total number of members in the list can exceed this number of members.

The members of a combo box list can also be established under Zim program control by using the FORM SET LIST command. The available combo box styles are “Manual Drop”, “Automatic Drop”, “Always Dropped”, “Drive List”, “Directory List” and “File List”.

Combination List Box Attributes

– Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Field Number	0	A number that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; Value must be an integer between 0 and 999;
Field Tag	“”	A string that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; If left blank, the Zim IDE will assign the value of Field Name to Field Tag.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Help Message	“”	A help message that will be displayed when this form field or this menu item receives input focus; Displayed in the status bar of the window associated with the parent form of this form field (if the window object’s Status Bar attribute is set to True); Displayed in a message field if one such field exists in the parent form of this form field.

– Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Customized Pointer	default	The pointer (or cursor) style when the pointer is hovering over (or the cursor is inside) an available form field; May be selected from the following choices in the list box: Arrow → the standard arrow cursor; Cross-hair → ; I-Beam → ; Icon → ; Resize → ; Size NE SW → ; Size NS → ; Size NW SE → ; Size WE → ; Up Arrow → ; Hourglass → ; default → The pointer style will be I-Beam for Entry Field and Arrow for all other form fields.
Fill Character	” “	The character used to fill blank spaces in this form field.
Initial Items	“”	A collection of strings that will be available for selection in this form field. Each string will appear on a different line; Strings are terminated by the enter key;
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.
Visible Lines	1	The number of visible lines in this entry field, list box or combination list box.

– Behavior

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Anchoring	Top, Left	When the window associated with this form field’s parent form is resized: Top → The top edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the top edge of the window; Bottom → The bottom edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the bottom edge of the window; Left → The left edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the left edge of the window; Right → The right edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the right edge of the window; None → The same as Top, Left.
Auto Complete	False	True → If the value being entered in this combination list box partially matches a list item, the entered value will be automatically completed with the remaining characters of the matching list item.
Auto Select	False	True → The contents or state of this form field will be automatically highlighted when it receives input focus.
Auto Skip	False	True → The input focus will automatically skip to the next available form field after the value or state of this form field has been modified.
Docking	None	Top → The top edge of the form field will be expanded and placed; Bottom → ; Left → ; Right → ; Fill → ; None → This form field.

– Callback Events

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
All Callback Events		When any of the following callback event attributes is set to True, this form field will be able to trigger the corresponding callback event; After the event is triggered, the form input command will be terminated and the following values will populate the Event Vector: Event.EventType = “FormField”; Event.EventTag = the form field’s Field Tag attribute; Additional values relative to specific callback events (see below); Note: Callback events can only be triggered by a form field if it is available and contained in a form that has input focus.
Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “Click” added to the Event Vector.
Double Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is double-clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “DoubleClick” added to the Event Vector.
Got Focus	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to acquire the input focus; Event.EventName = “GotFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (Always)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus; Event.EventName = “LostFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (When Modified)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus after its value has been modified (cf. Modified below); Event.EventName = “LostFocusModified” added to the Event Vector.
Modified	False	Triggered when the value or state of this form field is modified by a left mouse button click; Event.EventName = “Modified” added to Event Vector.
Right Click	False	Triggered when the right mouse button is clicked on or inside this form field; Event.EventName = “RightClick” added to the Event Vector.

– Colors

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Background Color	variable	The background color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values;
Foreground Color	variable	The foreground color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values.
Inherit Background Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the background color of its parent container or parent form object.
Inherit Foreground Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the foreground color of its parent container or parent form object.

– Properties

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Availability	Available	The way in which the end-user will interact with this form field: Available → This form field can receive input focus and its contents can be modified; Unavailable → This form field cannot receive input focus and its contents cannot be modified; Guarded → This form field can receive input focus but its contents cannot be modified; Protected → This form field cannot receive input focus, its contents cannot be modified and it will appear grayed-out;
Case	Mixed	The case in which the data contents of this form field will be displayed: Mixed → The data will be presented in its original case; Upper → The data will be displayed in upper case; Lower → The data will be displayed in lower case.
Data Type	Alphanumeric	The data type of this form field: Alphanumeric → May contain letters, digits and punctuation; Non-Digit → May contain all characters except digits; Numeric → May contain digits, decimal point, plus and minus signs; Date → May contain digits according to the form specified in Input Mask;
Default Data Value	“”	The default data value of this form field.
Drop Style	Always Dropped	Always Dropped → ; Manual Drop → ; Automatic Drop → ; Drive List → ; Directory List → ; File List → ;
Length	12	The length of the data displayed in this form field
Justification	None	The justification applied to the contents of this form field: Left or None → the contents will be displayed left-aligned; Right → the contents will be displayed right-aligned; Center → the contents will be displayed centered.
List Tracks Input	False	True → This combination list box
Suppress
Tab Index	0	The relative position of this form field in the tab sequence order for its parent container or form field; 0 → The relative position of the form field in the structure chart will be used instead.
Tab Stop	True	True → This form field will be included in the tab order for its parent container or form; False →
Validation
Z-Order	>= 10001	The relative depth of this form field in relation to other form fields within the same parent container or form.

– Style

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Font	Microsoft Sans Serif, 8pt	The font in which text will be displayed inside this form field.
Name	Microsoft Sans Serif	The system name of the selected font.
Size	8	The size of the font in units. (Point is the default unit);
Bold	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in bold.
Italic	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in italic.
Strikeout	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear with a line across.
Underline	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear underlined.
Inherit Font	False	True → This form field will inherit all the Font attributes from its parent (form, frame or tab control).

The Check Box

Main Characteristics of Check Boxes

Check box form fields belong to the generic class of form field called “Toggle Buttons”. They are most commonly used for supporting On/Off or True/False type data values, although they are not restricted to these value types. Multiple check boxes can be in the same state simultaneously, independent of their parent objects. A specific check box type (the 3-state type), supports the three-valued logic states, “On”, “Off” and “Null” (i.e. neither “On” nor “Off”).

Check boxes can be text-based or image-based. Text check boxes are displayed as the familiar “check box” immediately followed by some descriptive text. The value state of a text check box is “On” if an “X” is present in the box portion, “Off” if no “X” is present in the box portion, and “Null” if the box portion is gray-filled. Image check boxes are displayed as an image with no associated text or box portion. The value state of an image check box (more appropriately, “image toggle button”) is determined by which one of the two (or three, if a 3-state), possible images is displayed. The physical dimensions of an image check box are controlled by the selected automatic sizing option.

Check Box Attributes

– Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Field Number	0	A number that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; Value must be an integer between 0 and 999;
Field Tag	“”	A string that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; If left blank, the Zim IDE will assign the value of Field Name to Field Tag.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Help Message	“”	A help message that will be displayed when this form field or this menu item receives input focus; Displayed in the status bar of the window associated with the parent form of this form field (if the window object’s Status Bar attribute is set to True); Displayed in a message field if one such field exists in the parent form of this form field.

– Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Customized Pointer	default	The pointer (or cursor) style when the pointer is hovering over (or the cursor is inside) an available form field; May be selected from the following choices in the list box: Arrow → the standard arrow cursor; Cross-hair → ; I-Beam → ; Icon → ; Resize → ; Size NE SW → ; Size NS → ; Size NW SE → ; Size WE → ; Up Arrow → ; Hourglass → ; default → The pointer style will be I-Beam for Entry Field and Arrow for all other form fields.
Label	???	The label text which appears inside or along the top border of the form field; A character in the label will be underlined if there is an ampersand (&) immediately before it.
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.

– Behavior

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Anchoring	Top, Left	When the window associated with this form field’s parent form is resized: Top → The top edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the top edge of the window; Bottom → The bottom edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the bottom edge of the window; Left → The left edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the left edge of the window; Right → The right edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the right edge of the window; None → The same as Top, Left.
Auto Select	False	True → The contents or state of this form field will be automatically highlighted when it receives input focus.
Auto Skip	False	True → The input focus will automatically skip to the next available form field after the value or state of this form field has been modified.
Docking	None	Top → The top edge of the form field will be expanded and placed; Bottom → ; Left → ; Right → ; Fill → ; None → This form field.

– Callback Events

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
All Callback Events		When any of the following callback event attributes is set to True, this form field will be able to trigger the corresponding callback event; After the event is triggered, the form input command will be terminated and the following values will populate the Event Vector: Event.EventType = “FormField”; Event.EventTag = the form field’s Field Tag attribute; Additional values relative to specific callback events (see below); Note: Callback events can only be triggered by a form field if it is available and contained in a form that has input focus.
Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “Click” added to the Event Vector.
Got Focus	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to acquire the input focus; Event.EventName = “GotFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (Always)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus; Event.EventName = “LostFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (When Modified)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus after its value has been modified (cf. Modified below); Event.EventName = “LostFocusModified” added to the Event Vector.
Modified	False	Triggered when the value or state of this form field is modified by a left mouse button click; Event.EventName = “Modified” added to Event Vector.
Right Click	False	Triggered when the right mouse button is clicked on or inside this form field; Event.EventName = “RightClick” added to the Event Vector.

– Colors

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Background Color	variable	The background color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values;
Foreground Color	variable	The foreground color of the form field, container or user interface object in R(ed) G(reen) B(lue) values.
Inherit Background Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the background color of its parent container or parent form object.
Inherit Foreground Color	variable	True → The form field or container will inherit the foreground color of its parent container or parent form object.

– Properties

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Availability	Available	The way in which the end-user will interact with this form field: Available → This form field can receive input focus and its contents can be modified; Unavailable → This form field cannot receive input focus and its contents cannot be modified; Guarded → This form field can receive input focus but its contents cannot be modified; Protected → This form field cannot receive input focus, its contents cannot be modified and it will appear grayed-out;
Off-State Value	0	The data value when this form field is in the Off state;
On-State Value	1	The data value when this form field is in the On state;
On-State Validation Rule	1	The data validation rule that defines a legal value for this form field in the On state;
Tab Index	0	The relative position of this form field in the tab sequence order for its parent container or form field; 0 → The relative position of the form field in the structure chart will be used instead.
Tab Stop	True	True → This form field will be included in the tab order for its parent container or form; False →
Z-Order	>= 10001	The relative depth of this form field in relation to other form fields within the same parent container or form.

– Style

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Font	Microsoft Sans Serif, 8pt	The font in which text will be displayed inside this form field.
Name	Microsoft Sans Serif	The system name of the selected font.
Size	8	The size of the font in units. (Point is the default unit);
Bold	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in bold.
Italic	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear in italic.
Strikeout	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear with a line across.
Underline	False	True → The text inside this form field will appear underlined.
Inherit Font	False	True → This form field will inherit all the Font attributes from its parent (form, frame or tab control).

The Calendar

Main Characteristics of Calendars

Calendar Attributes

– Identification

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Field Type	–	The type of this form field or of this user interface object. (Read-only).
Field Name	variable	A string that identifies this form field within the Zim application; Automatically assigned by the Zim IDE when a new form field is created; May be changed by the developer, but must always conform to the Zim Object Naming Rules and satisfy the Zim Object Uniqueness Conditions.
Field Number	0	A number that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; Value must be an integer between 0 and 999;
Field Tag	“”	A string that may be used to identify this form field within the Zim application and in Callback Events; May be changed by the developer and need not be unique; If left blank, the Zim IDE will assign the value of Field Name to Field Tag.
Directory	ZIM	The directory that owns the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Form Name	–	A string that identifies the parent form of this form field (Read-only).
Help Message	“”	A help message that will be displayed when this form field or this menu item receives input focus; Displayed in the status bar of the window associated with the parent form of this form field (if the window object’s Status Bar attribute is set to True); Displayed in a message field if one such field exists in the parent form of this form field.

– Appearance

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Customized Pointer	default	The pointer (or cursor) style when the pointer is hovering over (or the cursor is inside) an available form field; May be selected from the following choices in the list box: Arrow → the standard arrow cursor; Cross-hair → ; I-Beam → ; Icon → ; Resize → ; Size NE SW → ; Size NS → ; Size NW SE → ; Size WE → ; Up Arrow → ; Hourglass → ; default → The pointer style will be I-Beam for Entry Field and Arrow for all other form fields.
Location	–	The location (in pixels) of this form field in relation to the top-left corner of its parent form or parent container.
X	–	The horizontal location of this form field.
Y	–	The vertical location of this form field.
Reverse Video	False	True → The text will appear in white on a black background; False → The text will appear in black on a white background;
Size	–	The size of this form field in pixels.
Width	–	The width of this form field.
Height	–	The height of this form field.
Visible	True	True → This form field will be visible by default.

– Behavior

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Anchoring	Top, Left	When the window associated with this form field’s parent form is resized: Top → The top edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the top edge of the window; Bottom → The bottom edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the bottom edge of the window; Left → The left edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the left edge of the window; Right → The right edge of this form field will maintain its distance from the right edge of the window; None → The same as Top, Left.
Auto Skip	False	True → The input focus will automatically skip to the next available form field after the value or state of this form field has been modified.
Docking	None	Top → The top edge of the form field will be expanded and placed; Bottom → ; Left → ; Right → ; Fill → ; None → This form field.

– Callback Events

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
All Callback Events		When any of the following callback event attributes is set to True, this form field will be able to trigger the corresponding callback event; After the event is triggered, the form input command will be terminated and the following values will populate the Event Vector: Event.EventType = “FormField”; Event.EventTag = the form field’s Field Tag attribute; Additional values relative to specific callback events (see below); Note: Callback events can only be triggered by a form field if it is available and contained in a form that has input focus.
Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “Click” added to the Event Vector.
Double Click	False	Triggered when the left mouse button is double-clicked within this form field; Event.EventName = “DoubleClick” added to the Event Vector.
Got Focus	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to acquire the input focus; Event.EventName = “GotFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (Always)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus; Event.EventName = “LostFocus” added to the Event Vector.
Lost Focus (When Modified)	False	Triggered when a mouse click, a tab key press or an accelerator key press causes this form field to lose the input focus after its value has been modified (cf. Modified below); Event.EventName = “LostFocusModified” added to the Event Vector.
Modified	False	Triggered when the value or state of this form field is modified by a left mouse button click; Event.EventName = “Modified” added to Event Vector.
Right Click	False	Triggered when the right mouse button is clicked on or inside this form field; Event.EventName = “RightClick” added to the Event Vector.

– Properties

Attribute Name	Default Value	Description
Availability	Available	The way in which the end-user will interact with this form field: Available → This form field can receive input focus and its contents can be modified; Unavailable → This form field cannot receive input focus and its contents cannot be modified; Guarded → This form field can receive input focus but its contents cannot be modified; Protected → This form field cannot receive input focus, its contents cannot be modified and it will appear grayed-out;
Tab Index	0	The relative position of this form field in the tab sequence order for its parent container or form field; 0 → The relative position of the form field in the structure chart will be used instead.
Tab Stop	True	True → This form field will be included in the tab order for its parent container or form; False →
Z-Order	>= 10001	The relative depth of this form field in relation to other form fields within the same parent container or form.