Property Types


The ARC file format uses numeric and string literals to define resources.

Numeric Literals

Numeric literals come in three formats, decimal, and hexadecimal, and character. The Integer properties are either represent a numeric value such as maximum length, or represent a specific item from an enumeration such as the case with justification (1 = left, 2 = center, etc.). The property description will specify valid values of the types of properties

Type

Description

Example

Decimal

A digital value that is used to represent a numeric value such as maximum length, or represent a specific item from an enumeration such as the case with justification (1 = left, 2 = center).

123 -123 123.456 -123.4 +123.4

Hexadecimal

A hexadecimal value that is used to represent a numeric value such as maximum length.

$10BD$ $1234ABC$

Character

A character, contained within single quotes. This specifies the ASCII value of the character.

'd' '3' '@'

String Literals

String literals define name, title, mask, and default text entries for resources. String literals must be made of printable characters and are always contained in double quotes. Null is the default setting for all string properties.

Flag Properties

Flag ("Boolean") properties define a wide range of resource settings. For example, they are used to include scroll bars and titles in windows, set controls to be initially disabled or invisible, replace input text with asterisks, and set menu items to be initially checked. Flag properties are designated as true or false by default.

The following guidelines apply to flag properties:

  • Properties designated as false by default will not be applied, unless the property name is included in the resource definition.

  • Properties designated as true by default will be applied, unless NOT and the property name are included in the resource definition.

  • Properties for a single resource can be entered on more than one line.

Color Properties

Color properties define the foreground and background colors of resources. To define colors, use the predefined color name listed in the stdincl.h file or use the RGB value.

Font and Justification Properties

Font and justification properties define the attributes of text contained or entered into resources. Font properties define the text font, point size, style, and character set. Justification properties define the alignment of text within the control.

Font Properties

The following lists the font property syntax:

"Fontname" pointsize{,style{,charset}}

Justification Properties The following lists the justification syntax:

Justification setting

Character Properties

Character properties define row and column separations in grid controls and line separations in the Initialcontents settings of all text entry controls.

  • \\ - Indicates a backslash character is intended.

  • \t – Indicates a horizontal tab character is intended.

  • \n – Indicates a new line character is intended.

  • \XXX – Where XXX are octal digits in the range 000 to 377 indicates the ASCII character represented by the octal number is intended. For instance to embed a quote character the escape sequence is \042.