Home/Panels

Panels are used to view and edit record sets or entity sets. An example application will be operated here to illustrate the main panel features and conduct some experiments. Use the experiment selector (in the bar) to test for yourself how panels work.

Query By Example Live scrolling List and detail Ordering Excel exporting Data editing Controlled editing Keyboard uses Lookups and decoding Lookup form Smart lookup Validation Cell formatting Multiple selection Types of checks Print content BLOB fields Static fields Fixed columns Toolbar customization Grouped and paginated fields

Initialize framework...

Query By Example: Panels allow you to enter the search criteria for finding data in an easy way. For example, enter the 10:50 search string in the ID field to search products whose ID is included between 10 and 50, then enter the C;G string in the Name field to search those whose names begin with C or G. Press the button in the toolbar to view the search results. Point the cursor on the icon to view the criteria, then go back to the criteria setting page by pressing the button. The QBE process can also be controlled via BeforeFind and AfterFind events. For more technical details, click on the event name, otherwise click here to go to the next experiment.

Live Scroll: a local cache memory of the records viewed is featured by the panels. This allows you to scroll data live, nearly as it occurs in client/server applications. Click here to load all products in the panel list, then scroll the bar up and down to move through the list. Arrows and PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN buttons can be used as well. Alternatively, you can use the toolbar navigation buttons. All this also occurs with hundreds of thousands of records. Click here to go to the next experiment.

List and detail: panels can be displayed in list view or in detail view. Press the button in the panel toolbar to display a detail view, then press the button to go back to the list view. The fields displayed in detail view may be different from the fields displayed in list view. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Ordering: in the list view data can be ordered per one or per many columns. For instance, click on the IDCategory field heading and the products will be ordered by categories. Click on the Name field heading, hold down SHIFT and the products will be ordered by category and by name. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Excel exporting: in the list view, click on the button and the panel content will be exported in Excel (CSV) format. If Internet Explorer is in use, hold down CTRL while clicking, otherwise the file may not be displayed due to a pop-up block. With other browsers you may not view files due to the same reason. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Data editing: now the panel is locked. Press the button in the toolbar to edit data. Data can be edited in detail as well as in list view, then press the button to save data or the button to cancel modifications. At the end, press the button to go back to a read-only status. The whole saving process can be controlled by way of events such as BeforeUpdate and AfterUpdate. Click on the event names for more technical details, otherwise click here to go to the next experiment.

Controlled editing: when the panel is in unlocked mode, edit values in the unit price field. As you can see, the prices are formatted in the course of editing, not simply when the field is exited. In addition, if you press the dot or comma buttons, the cursor will go in the appropriate position as decimal separator and only two decimals will be accepted. Controlled editing is available also for date and character fields. All this makes data editing faster and easier to the benefit of application users. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Keyboard uses: you can navigate through fields via the keyboard in list as well as in detail view. Point the cursor in a field and use the arrows buttons to move within the list. All panel commands can be operated via keyboard function buttons. For example, press F3 several times to go to search mode and find the requested data. Tooltips are associated to each button, with an indication of what keyboard function button will operate it. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Lookups and decoding:  lookup query/decoding mechanisms are contained in the panes to achieve decoding of the codes displayed on the screen with great ease. For example, edit the ID Category field value (Categ.) of a product entering a new code, e.g. 7. As soon as you exit the field, the corresponding value is coded in the lower part of the list. Press now the button located within the field: a combo box will appear allowing you to select the category by name. There are many more lookup methods available, depending on the database structure and requirements, e.g. lookup forms and "smart lookups". Click here to go to the next experiment.

Lookup forms: for more detailed searches you can use a whole form to choose the value. For example, click on the button in the Supplier Name field. A modal pop-up form will be displayed allowing you to choose the requested supplier. Press the button in this form to view a list of suppliers then double click the supplier's name (or press F12) to display the selected value in the products panel. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Smart lookup: a particularly interesting lookup method consists in entering the information known on a certain supplier via the decoding field. For instance, enter G in the Supplier Name field. A combo box will be displayed highlighting the suppliers whose names begin with G. Select one and press ENTER to confirm your selection. The search algorithm can be configured and customized. In this field a search option for further supplier properties has been activated. For instance, enter JAP and press enter to display a list of Japanese suppliers. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Validation: panel data are formally controlled and validated. Enter 88 in the ID Supplier field then exit the field: an error will promptly be reported. The OnValidateRow or OnUpdatingRow events can be used to add your own validation scheme. Shorten a product name up to two letters then press ENTER: a validation error will be reported specific in this example. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Cell formatting: the properties of individual cells as well as of columns can be edited via OnDynamicProperties event. Edit the stock field by entering zero. The product name will be highlighted in red to report that it is out of stock. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Multiple selection: multiple row selection is supported by panels. Press the button on the left on top and selection checkboxes will be displayed replacing the row status indicator . Select one or many rows and the field on the right at the bottom of the list will report the number of rows and calculate the sum of the stock field. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Types of checks: Beside edit boxes and combo boxes, further control types can be used, e.g. check boxes, radio buttons, images steered via field values as well as a powerful HTML editor to allow for document preparation in the browser. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Print panel content: the panel can be linked to a report to print its content. Press the button to see a list of selected products in PDF format. If the PDF file does not open check for pop-up blocks. Click here to go to the next experiment.

BLOB fields: uploading and downloading of BLOB fields in the database is managed automatically through the panels. Click here to display the employees panel where a BLOB field containing the employees' photos is contained. Switch from one row to the next by pressing the and buttons to display the employees' photos. If the panel were editable you could delete the photos or upload new files from your PC. Click here to display the new Products panel, otherwise click here to go to the next experiment.

Static fields: Further fields not linked to any data and to be used as labels, buttons, images, containers of other frames, etc, can be added as well. Click on the button in the products panel then press the button on the right at the bottom. This has been created with a static field. Click here to go to the next experiment.

Fixed columns: a useful option is to keep some columns fixed and scroll only the others in the list. Click here to open the suppliers panel with fixed columns. Try them out, then click here to go back to the products panel, otherwise click here to go to the next experiment.

Toolbar customization: all panel toolbar aspects can be configured and edited via coding. Click here to add the button to the panel in order to open a pop-up menu, then click here to go to the next experiment.

Grouped and paginated fields: if several fields need to be displayed, these can be grouped together and partitioned into pages. Click here to view a supplier panel with paginated data and - when displayed in forms - grouped. Pagination is another basic panel functionality.