DDBuilder: Defining Column Input Attributes (Superseded)

To define the TAOS form input attributes for a selected column, do the following:

1. In the tree view, select the desired column to display the General Column properties page.

2. Click the Input tab to display the Input properties page.

3. Enter data into the appropriate fields (each field is described under Fields).

Fields

Label

Enter the column's TAOS default screen label string.

Columns

Define the width of the column for fields and reports. The default automatically adjusts to the column width.

Helpfile

Define the column's default Help screen invoked by pressing F1. Any of the following can be used:

Format	Help Source
helpfile@key	Indexed ASCII file
helpfile;helpitem	Searchable ASCII file
helpform	TAOS Form

Rows

Define the default number of rows on a form.

Prompt

Define the screen prompt message that appears if users insert information in the column.

Mask

Define the column's input mask.

Character	Description
a	Accepts any alphabetic character.
A	Accepts any alphabetic character and forces upper case.
N	Accepts any numeric character (+, -, 0..9, ., ,).
x	Accepts any character.
X	Accepts any character, forces lower case alphabetic characters to upper case.
z	Accepts any alphanumeric character.
Z	Accepts any alphanumeric character, forces lower case alphabetic characters to upper case.
U	Any digit, alphabetic, or punctuation character. Converts lower-case alphabetic characters to upper case.
0	Numeric formatted, zero filled.
#	Numeric formatted, space filled.
*	Numeric formatted, asterisk filled.
,	Thousands separator if found before ".". Decimal point if found after ".".
.	Thousands separator if found before ",". Decimal point if found after ",".

Search

Define a TAOS procedure or PRO/5 program that executes if users press F5 during data entry. (The maximum length is 128 characters.) Valid entries include an external CALL, a TAOS process control merge file, or one or more TAOS process control statements.

Alternate

Provide a developer-supplied TAOS procedure or PRO/5 program to control column data entry if the TAOS Input Subsystem does not provide the necessary control. The procedure must use a CALL list identical to that of _ninput.utl. For more information, see the Standard Input Processing section in the PRO/5 EUS Toolkit Guide.

Flags

Flag	Description
Auto-return	Automatically performs a return at the end of the field.
Pad right	Pads the back of the mask if the input mask is shorter than the output mask.
Custom mask	Uses a custom mask.
Numeric mask	Uses the numeric masking conventions for this field.
No mask padding	Does not pad the input mask.
Exit on tab	Exits the column if Tab is pressed.
No erase	Does not erase the existing field data.
Secure entry	Displays asterisks for all text entered in this field.
Efficient mode	Provides faster input with fewer features. Macro Record and Playback, Column Refresh, and Timeout are not available in efficient mode.
No modification	Prevents modification of the selected field.