Entry_Item

Purpose

To define an entry item in a data entry object, such as a dbForm.

Syntax

Entry_Item {table.column | expression}

What It Does

An Entry_Item command defines the association between a data entry object and the destination of the data. Entry_Item is used to place data into a column of a database table's record buffer. An Entry_Item command may also be attached to an expression, so that it displays the value of the expression on the screen. Note that Entry_Item expressions are not supported in cDbCJGridColumn objects. To create a calculated column in a DB column object, you should omit the Entry_Item command and use the OnSetCalculatedValue event.

This association provides for both the display of the column contents and the data entry of the column value. If the argument is a {table.column}, then the item content is transferred between the screen and the data-dictionary buffer.

Entry objects support a wide set of column properties that allow you to control every aspect of the data entry interface. Each of these properties can be defined in DataDictionary classes and objects (DDOs). Data Dictionary classes are designed in the Studio's Data Dictionary Modeler. For more information, please also see the Data Dictionary Guide and the DataDictionary class in the Class Reference.

Example

Below is an example of an entry item for the Customer_Number column of a customer table:

Object Customer_Number is a dbForm
    Entry_Item Customer.Customer_number
    Set Label to "Customer Number:"
    Set Size to 13 42
    Set Location to 5 72
End_Object

Below is an example of an expression entry item:

Object Customer_Available_Credit is a dbForm
    Entry_Item (Customer.Credit_limit - Customer.Balance)
    Set Label to "Available Credit:"
    Set Size to 13 48
    Set Location to 9 72
End_Object

Below is an example of an expression entry item that calls a function defined in its Server DDO:

Object oInvt_DD is a Invt_DataDictionary
    ...
    Function CalcExtended Returns Number
        Number nExtent
        Move (Orderdtl.Qty_Ordered * Orderdtl.Price) to nExtent
        Function_Return nExtent
    End_Function
End_Object  // oInvt_DD

Object oInvtDbGrid is a dbGrid
    ...
    Begin_Row
        Entry_Item Invt.Item_id
        Entry_Item Invt.Description
        Entry_Item Invt.Unit_price
        Entry_Item Orderdtl.Price
        Entry_Item Orderdtl.Qty_ordered
        Entry_Item (CalcExtended(Server(Self)))
    End_Row
End_Object  // oInvtDbGrid