27 poptext (Combobox)

{ export | reexport } { model } poptext { <Identifier> }
{
  <standard attributes>
  <plain attributes>
  <geometry attributes>
  <hierarchy attributes>
  <layout attributes>
  <text attributes>
  <object-specific attributes>
}

In the description combobox is used as a synonym for poptext.

Events

activate

charinput

cut

deselect

deselect_enter

extevent

focus

help

key

modified

paste

select

Children

document

record

transformer

Parent

groupbox

layoutbox

module

notepage

splitbox

toolbar

window

Menu

Pop-up menu

27.1 Attributes

27.2 Specific Attributes

Standard Attributes

In the combobox there is a .userdata attribute for each item which can be accessed by index. Without an index the usual .userdata attribute will be accessed.

Plain Attributes

These attributes are used to define size and position of the combobox. If the attributes .width or .height are set to 0, the DM will calculate the corresponding size automatically.

Attribute to control the creation of the activate and select events

The attribute .options[opt_old_select] controls the creation of the activate and select events, it is normally set to false.

If the attribute .options[opt_old_select] is set to false, then the select/activate events will be generated analog to the other sample objects, such as the listbox and treeview.

First modification to the old behavior is that the activate events no longer indicate the receiving of the focus (edittext and listbox style), but rather show a change in the activation status (.activeitem attribute). Secondly, a select event is only created by a "completed" selection of the user. This is true even when the same entry is selected a second time. In this sense "completed" means that the list is closed (exception: comment (1) and (2)) or when the modification does not require that the list be made visible.

Summary

For a poptext with the attribute .options[opt_old_select]=false, the select and activate where triggered under the following conditions:

Comments

1. The poptext list in the style listbox is always open. Therefore the keyboard selection behaves analog to the mouse selection. Naturally, in this style the list cannot be "aborted".
2. Only on some window systems is it possible to abort an open list.
3. The keys which can be used for cursor selection is dependent upon the system in use; normally these are the Up and Down cursor keys.

Example for the use of separate events with .options[opt_old_select] = false

• In order to be aware of all changes that have taken place (even in open lists)

  poptext Pt {
    .options[opt_old_select] false;
    on activate {...}
  }

• In order only to react to the selection of another list item

  poptext Pt {
    .options[opt_old_select] false;
    on select {
      if (thisevent.value <> thisevent.index) then
        ...
      endif
    }
  }

• In order to react to every selection

  poptext Pt {
    .options[opt_old_select] false;
    on select {...}
  }

• "on activate" is no longer to be used when the receipt of the focus is meant. Now this should be written as follows

  poptext Pt {
    .options[opt_old_select] false;
     on focus {...}
  }

Text Attributes

Text attributes are active in the styles "edittext" and "listbox" only. Usually (.style poptext) these attributes are ignored. .content is only readable in Style poptext. .content is a dynamic attribute in a combobox. It may be set during runtime only. This attribute cannot be defined statically in the dialog file.

The combobox contains three different types of representation and editability. These types are controlled with the attribute .style:

• poptext

  The combobox is not editable and is only used to represent a usually fixed number of items.

• edittext

  The combobox is editable and may be changed by the user. Basically this type is used to administrate dynamic lists. You may add further items to the list and select items.

• listbox

  The combobox is editable and is always open, allowing you to quickly select an item from a given list (similar to listbox) or to specify an item yourself. This is helpful for search processes.

The event processing in the combobox (.style edittext or listbox) is different from the actual edittext. The select event for the combobox behaves different from the one for the edittext.

With the styles .style = edittext and .style = listbox, the attribute .real_modified indicates, whether the content actually has changed since the combobox has received the focus.

Notes for attribute .hinttext

This attribute is supported only by Windows and Qt. The poptext object must have the edittext style set.

On Windows, .hinttext is also supported if the attribute .style has the value listbox.

Note for Dialog Manager on Microsoft Windows

The height of a combobox cannot be set. The corresponding window system will automatically choose a value depending on the font.

The poptext supports Dialog Manager opt_hscroll option as of IDM version A.06.01.h. The horizontal scrollbar appears within the display area and thus covers the lowest lines. A vertical scrollbar is then also displayed for this purpose. Since the operation of scrollbars in an open list is not easy for the user, this option should only be used if there is no other solution.

Note for Dialog Manager on Motif

The attribute .showitem is not available since Motif version 2.1

27.3 Example

window PoptextDemo

{

  .active false;

  .title "PoptextDemo";

  child poptext Poptext

  {

    .xleft 5;

    .ytop 1;

    .text[1] "Item 1";

    .text[2] "Item 2";

    .text[3] "Item 3";

    .text[4] "Item 4";

    .activeitem 1;

    .showitem 4;

  }

  child poptext Combox

  {

    .xleft 20;

    .ytop 1;

    .text[1] "Combo 1";

    .text[2] "Combo 2";

    .text[3] "Combo 3";

    .text[4] "Combo 4";

    .activeitem 1;

    .style edittext;

    .showitem 4;

  }

  child poptext Listbox

  {

    .xleft 34;

    .ytop 1;

    .height 5;

    .text[1] "List 1";

    .text[2] "List 2";

    .text[3] "List 3";

    .text[4] "List 4";

    .text[5] "List 5";

    .text[6] "List 6";

    .text[7] "List 7";

    .text[8] "List 8";

    .activeitem 1;

    .style listbox;

  }

}