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Version: 5.x

DESIGN statement

The DESIGN statement changes form design.

Syntax

The syntax consists of nested blocks of design statements. The outer block, beginning with the keyword DESIGN, defines a form whose design will change:

DESIGN formName [caption] [CUSTOM] {
designStatement1
...
designStatementN
}

Each designStatement describes one design statement. Design statements are of the following types:

NEW name [insertPos] [{...}];
MOVE selector [insertPos] [{...}];
selector [{...}];
REMOVE selector;
propertyName = value;

The first three statements – create (NEW), move (MOVE), and modify – may in turn contain nested blocks of design statements. The design statements remove (REMOVE) and change property value (=) are simple single statements. Each design statement must end with a semicolon if it does not contain a nested statement block.

Each selector can be one of the following types:

componentName
PROPERTY(formPropertyName)
FILTERGROUP(filterGroupName)
PARENT(selector)
GROUP([propertyGroupSelector][,groupObjectTreeSelector])
noGroupObjectTreeContainerType
groupObjectTreeContainerType(groupObjectTreeSelector)

In turn, groupObjectTreeSelector can be one of two types:

groupObjectSelector
TREE treeSelector

Description

Using the DESIGN statement the developer can manage the design of the interactive form view by creating, moving, and deleting containers and components, as well as changing their certain properties. By default, a default design is created for each form, along with appropriate containers. If necessary, you can recreate the design without the default containers and previously configured settings. This is done using the keyword CUSTOM.

Each block of design statements enclosed in braces alows to modify a particular component and its descendants. Let's call this component the current component or the current container if we know that the component should be a container in our case. In the external block following the DESIGN keyword, the main container is the current component. There are the following design statements:

  • The create statement (NEW) allows to create a new container, making it a descendant of the current one. The newly-created container will be the current component in the design statements block contained in this statement.
  • The move statement (MOVE) allows to make an existing component a direct descendant of the current container. This component is first removed from the previous parent container. The component being moved becomes the current component in the design statements block contained in this statement.
  • The modify statement allows to modify the specified component which must be a descendant (not necessarily a child) of the current container. The specified element will be the current component in the design statements block contained in this statement.
  • The remove statement (REMOVE) allows to remove a specified component from the component hierarchy. The component to be removed has to be a descendant of the current container.
  • The change property value statement (=) allows to change the value of the specified property of the current component.

The component hierarchy described in this statement can have an arbitrary number of nesting levels and describe any number of components and their properties at each level.

To access design components, you can use their names or address property components on the form (PROPERTY), the parent component (PARENT), property group components (GROUP), and other base components/default design components.

Parameters

Common parameters

  • formName

    The name of the form being changed. Composite ID.

  • caption

    The new form caption in the interactive view mode. String literal. The form caption doesn't change in the navigator.

  • name

    The name of the container being created. Simple ID.

  • insertPos

    Component insertion or moving position. Specified with one of the following options:

    • BEFORE selector

    • AFTER selector

      Specifies that the component should be added or moved before (BEFORE) or after (AFTER) the specified components. The specified component must be a child of the current container.

    • FIRST

      A keyword specifying that the component should be added or moved to the first position in the list of the current container's children.

  • propertyName

    The name of the component property. The list of existing properties is provided in the tables below.

  • value

    The value assigned to the corresponding container property. Acceptable value types are provided in the tables below.

Component properties

Property nameDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
spantodoInteger literal12
defaultComponentSpecifying that this component should get the focus when the form is initialized. Can only be set for one component on the entire formExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
activatedtodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
fillSimilar to the flex property, the only difference being that if a zero value is set, the align property is set to START, otherwise align is set to STRETCHNUMERIC type literal01.5
sizeThe base component size in pixels (a value of -1 means that the size is undefined)A pair of integer literals (width, height)(-1, -1)(100, 20)
heightThe base component height in pixels.Integer literal-150
widthThe base component width in pixels.Integer literal-120
flexExtension coefficient. Value of a property similar to the CSS flex-grow property. Defines how much the component should grow in size relative to other components.NUMERIC type literal00.25
shrinktodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
alignShrinktodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
align
alignment
Component alignment inside the container. Acceptable values: START (at the beginning), CENTER (in the center), END (at the end), STRETCH (stretched).Alignment typeSTARTSTRETCH
marginTopTop marginInteger literal03
marginRightRight marginInteger literal01
marginBottomBottom marginInteger literal04
marginLeftLeft marginInteger literal01
marginMargin. Sets the same value to the following properties: marginTop, marginRight, marginBottom, marginLeftInteger literal05
captionFontThe font to be used for displaying caption of the componentString literaldepends on the component'Tahoma bold 16'
'Times 12'
fontThe font to be used for displaying the component text — for example, property value, action caption, table textString literaldepends on the component'Tahoma bold 16'
'Times 12'
fontSizeThe size of the font to be used for displaying the component textNumeric literaldepends on the component10
fontStyleThe style of the font to be used for the component text May contain the words 'bold' and/or 'italic', or an empty stringString literal'''bold'
'bold italic'
backgroundThe color to be used for the component backgroundLiteral of class COLOR#FFFFFF#FFFFCC
RGB(255, 0, 0)
foregroundThe color to be used for the component textColorNULL#FFFFCC
RGB(255, 0, 0)
imagePathThe path to the file with the image to be displayed as an action icon. The path is specified relative to the images folderString literalNULL'image.png'
showIfSpecifies a condition under which the container will be displayed.ExpressionNULLisLeapYear(date)
hasComplexity(a, b)

Container properties

Property nameDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
captionContainer headerString literalNULL'Caption'
collapsibletodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
collapsedtodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
typeContainer type. Acceptable values:
CONTAINERV - vertical container
CONTAINERH - horizontal container
COLUMNS - column container
SPLITV - vertical splitter
SPLITH - horizontal splitter
TABBED - tabbed panel
SCROLL– a scrollable container, cannot have more than one childdeprecated since version 5, use horizontal, tabbed, lines
Container typeCONTAINERVCONTAINERH
TABBED
horizontalContainer is horizontalLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
tabbedContainer is tabbedLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
childrenAlignmentAlignment of child components inside a container. Acceptable values: START, CENTER, ENDAlignment typeSTARTCENTER
alignCaptionstodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
gridtodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
wraptodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
resizeOverflowtodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
customtodoString literalNULLtodo
columnsNumber of columns in a COLUMNS type container
deprecated since version 5, use lines
Integer literal13
linesNumber of lines (rows or columns) in containerInteger literal13

Properties of actions and properties on the form

Property nameDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
autoSizeAutomatic component size option. Applies to text components onlyExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
boxedDrawing a frame (box) around a componentExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
panelCaptionVerticalIndicates that the captions of property or action components should be drawn above the value on the panelExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
panelCaptionLastIndicates that the value should be drawn on the panel prior to thee property captionExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
panelCaptionAlignmentComponent caption alignment. Acceptable values: START (at the beginning), CENTER (in the center), END (at the end), STRETCH (stretched).Alignment typeSTARTSTRETCH
editOnSingleClickSpecifying that change event should be triggered after the property component is clicked once
deprecated, use changeOnSingleClick instead
Extended Boolean literaldepends on the propertyTRUE
FALSE
changeOnSingleClickSpecifying that change event should be triggered after the property component is clicked onceExtended Boolean literaldepends on the propertyTRUE
FALSE
focusableSpecifying that the property (action) component or a table column can get focusExtended Boolean literalchangeKey = NULLTRUE
FALSE
hideSpecifying that the property (action) component should be always hiddenExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
regexpThe regular expression that the property value must match during inputString literalNULL'^((8|\\+7)[\\- ]?)?(\\(?\\d\{3\}\\)?[\\- ]?)?[\\d\\- ]\{7,10\}$'
regexpMessageThe message to be shown to the user if they enter a value that does not match the regular expressionString literaldefault message'Incorrect phone number format'
patternProperty value formatting template. The syntax of template definition is similar to the DecimalFormat or SimpleDateFormat syntax, depending on the value typeString literalNULL#,##0.00
maxValueThe maximum numerical value that the property component can haveInteger literalNULL1000000
5000000000L
echoSymbolsSpecifying that a set of * characters will be displayed instead of the property value. Used for passwords, for exampleExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
noSortNo sortingLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
valueSizeWidth and height of the property value cell in pixelsA pair of Integer literals (width, height)(-1, -1)(100, 20)
valueHeightHeight of the property value cell in pixelsInteger literaldepends on the property100
valueWidthWidth of the property value cell in pixelsInteger literaldepends on the property100
captionHeightHeight of the property caption in pixelsInteger literal-1100
captionWidthWidth of the property caption in pixelsInteger literal-1100
charHeightHeight of the property value cell in characters (rows).Integer literaldepends on the property2
charWidthWidth of the property value cell in charactersInteger literaldepends on the property10
valueFlextodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
changeKeyThe key that will trigger the property change event. The definition principle is similar to specifying a parameter in Keystroke.getKeystroke(String)String literalNULL'ctrl F6'
'BACK_SPACE'
'alt shift X'
changeKeyPrioritytodoInteger literalNULL'1000'
changeMousetodoString literalNULL'DBLCLK'
changeMousePrioritytodoInteger literalNULL'1000'
showChangeKeySpecifying that the property caption will include that name of the key shortcut that will trigger the change eventExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
focusabletodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
panelColumnVerticaltodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
captionCaption of a property or actionString literalcaption of a property or action'Caption'
valueAlignmentComponent value alignment. Acceptable values: START (at the beginning), CENTER (in the center), END (at the end), STRETCH (stretched).Alignment typeSTARTSTRETCH
clearTextSpecifying that the current text should be reset when input startsExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
notSelectAllSpecifying that the text is not selected at the start of editingFALSETRUE
FALSE
askConfirmSpecifies that an attempt to change the property (execute an action) will show a confirmation requestExtended Boolean literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
askConfirmMessageText of the confirmation request shown when an attempt to change the property (execute the action) is madeString literaldefault message'Are you sure you want to modify this property?'
toolTipThe tip to be shown when the cursor hovers over the caption of a property or actionString literalDefault toolTip'Tip'
notNullSpecifies that in case of a NULL property value, the component of this property should be highlightedExtended Boolean literaldepends on the propertyTRUE
FALSE

Toolbar properties

Property nameDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
visibleSpecifying the visibility of the componentBoolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
showCountQuantityShow the row quantity calculation buttonExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
showCalculateSumShow the column sum calculation buttonExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
showGroupShow the grouping report buttonExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
showPrintGroupXlsShow the XLS export buttonExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
showSettingsShow the table setting buttonExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE

Grid properties

Property nameDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
autosizetodoBoolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
boxedDrawing a frame (box) around a componentBoolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
tabVerticalSpecifying that focus will be moved from top to bottom (not from left to right)Extended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
quickSearchSpecifying that the table will support quick element searchExtended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE
headerHeightHeader height in pixelsInteger literalNULL60
resizeOverflowtodoLogical literalFALSETRUE
FALSE
lineWidthtodoInteger literalNULL60
lineHeighttodoInteger literalNULL60

Other properties

Property nameApplies toDescriptionValue typeDefault valueExamples
visiblecustom filter, class treeSpecifying the visibility of the component for setting custom filters (class tree)Extended Boolean literalTRUETRUE
FALSE

selector parameters

  • componentName

    Name of a design component. Simple ID.

  • formPropertyName

    Property/action name on the form.

  • filterGroupName

    The name of a filter group. Simple ID.

  • propertyGroupSelector

    The name of a property group. Simple ID.

  • groupObjectSelector

    The name of an object group on the form. Simple ID.

  • treeSelector

    The name of an object tree on the form. Simple ID.

  • noGroupObjectTreeContainerType

    Type of form container:

    • BOX – a common form container
    • PANEL – contains components of properties that are displayed in PANEL view and display group of which is undefined.
    • TOOLBARBOX – a common toolbar container with property components that are displayed in the panel, marked for placement on the TOOLBAR, and for which no object group is defined.
    • TOOLBARLEFT - the left part of the toolbar
    • TOOLBARRIGHT - the right part of the toolbar
    • TOOLBAR contains components of properties that are displayed in TOOLBAR view and display group of which is undefined.
  • groupObjectTreeContainerType

    The type of an object group / tree container.

    • All types of containers of the noGroupObjectTreeContainerType form (identical semantics)
    • GRIDBOX - a table container
      deprecated since version 5, use GRID
    • GRID - a table component
    • TOOLBARSYSTEM - a system toolbar (number of records, group adjustment, etc.).
    • FILTERGROUPS - contains filter group components
    • USERFILTER - a component that displays custom filters
      deprecated since version 5, use FILTERS

Examples

DESIGN order { // customizing the design of the form, starting with the default design
// marking that all changes to the hierarchy will occur for the topmost container
// creating a new container as the very first one before the system buttons,
// in which we put two containers - header and specifications
NEW orderPane FIRST {
fill = 1; // specifying that the container should occupy all the space available to it
type = SPLITV; // specifying that the container will be a vertical splitter
MOVE BOX(o) { // moving everything related to the object o to the new container
PANEL(o) { // configuring how properties are displayed in the object o panel
type = CONTAINERV; // making all descendants go from top to bottom
NEW headerRow1 { // creating a container - the first row
type = CONTAINERH;
MOVE PROPERTY(date(o)) { // moving the order date property
// "override" the property caption in the form design (instead of the standard one)
caption = 'Date of the edited order';
// setting a hint for the order date property
toolTip = 'Input here the date the order was made';
background = #00FFFF; // making the background red
}
MOVE PROPERTY(time(o)) { // moving the order time property
foreground = #FF00FF; // making the color green
}
MOVE PROPERTY(number(o)) { // moving the order number property
// setting that the user should preferably be shown 5 characters
charWidth = 5;
}
MOVE PROPERTY(series(o)); // moving the order series property
}
NEW headerRow2 {
type = CONTAINERV; // descendants - from top to bottom
}
MOVE PROPERTY(note(o));
}

size = (400, 300); //specifying that the container o.box should have a base size of 400x300 pixels
}
// creating a container that will store various specifications for the order
NEW detailPane {
// marking that this container should be a tab panel, where its descendats are tabs
type = TABBED;
MOVE BOX(d) { // adding a container with order lines as one of the tabs in the top panel
caption = 'Lines'; // setting the caption of the tab panel
// making the row number column never have focus
PROPERTY(index(d)) { focusable = FALSE; }
GRID(d) {
// making sure that by default the focus when opening the form is set to the row table
defaultComponent = TRUE;
}
}
MOVE BOX(s) { // adding a container with sku totals as one of the detailPane tabs
caption = 'Selection';
}
}
}
}

// splitting the form definition into two statements (the second statement can be transferred to another module)
DESIGN order {
// removing the container with print and export to xls buttons from the hierarchy, thereby making them invisible
REMOVE TOOLBARLEFT;
}

The output is the following form: