The Controls tab features objects that allow you to issue commands and update variables that may be used to control other objects in the display. The sample display file controls.rtv (located in the tutorials directory) features information on working with objects from the Controls tab.

The value, valueString and selectedValue properties allow you to set the value for the controls. The varToSet property allows you to update the attached variable with the value from the control.

The actionCommand property allows you to set up a command which will be executed from the control.  This actionCommand can reference the value from the control by using the keyword $value. To enable selecting, moving and editing the controls without activating the associated action command, the controls are not active in the main window of the Display Builder.

The tabIndex property allows you to define the order in which table and control objects will receive focus when navigated from your keyboard. Initial focus is given to the object with the smallest tabIndex value, from there the tabbing order proceeds in ascending order. If multiple objects share the same tabIndex value, then initial focus and tabbing order are determined by the alpha-numeric order of the object names. Objects with a tabIndex value of 0 are last in the tabbing order. NOTE: The tabIndex property does not apply to Slider objects or objects that are disabled, invisible, or have a value of less than 0.

To preview a control object in the Display Builder, save your file and click the Preview button  in the toolbar. Your display opens in a Preview Window that allows you to activate control objects. The Preview button becomes disabled when you edit your display. Save your display again to enable it.

The Controls tab features the following objects:

Text Entry Fields
There are three text entry fields to choose from. The first allows you to enter numeric or text information. Attach your data to valueString to update the value shown in this text entry field from your data.

The second text entry field accepts only numbers without decimal points and the third allows numbers with decimal points. Attach your data to value to update the values shown in these text entry fields from your data.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the data you typed into the text entry field when you press <Enter> and, if the executeOnFocusLostFlag is selected, when the text entry field loses focus. To disable text entry, deselect the editableFlag checkbox. If the editableFlag is off and enabledFlag is on, the mouse and arrow keys can still be used to move the cursor.

To set the bgColor and fgColor properties of a text entry field, click on the  button and choose a color from the palette. The bgColor property sets the color of the object's object's background area and the fgColor property sets the color of the text. When bgColor and fgColor properties are set to Default, then the text entry field will adopt default settings for background and foreground colors. For example, in the Display Viewer the text entry field in your display will adopt a standard Java appearance. When that same display is viewed via Thin Client Browser, the text entry field will conform to that browser's color preferences.

Text Area Object
The text area control supports display and entry of multi-line text with optional word wrap. Scrollbars will appear as needed. Attach your data to valueString to update the value shown in this text area from your data.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the data you typed into the text area control when the text area control loses focus. To disable text entry, deselect the editableFlag checkbox. If the editableFlag is off and enabledFlag is on, the mouse and arrow keys can still be used to move the cursor.

To set the bgColor and fgColor properties of a text area object, click on the  button and choose a color from the palette. The bgColor property sets the color of the object's background area and the fgColor property sets the color of the text. When bgColor and fgColor properties are set to Default, then the text area control will adopt default settings for background and foreground colors. For example, in the Display Viewer the text area control in your display will adopt a standard Java appearance. When that same display is viewed via Thin Client Browser, the text area control will conform to that browser's color preferences.

In the Display Viewer, pressing the <Tab> key inside a text area control will inserts a tab character in the text. To move the keyboard focus away from a text area control, either click outside of the control or press <Ctrl-Tab>.

In the Display Viewer Applet, pressing the <Tab> key inside a text area will move the keyboard focus.

Button
The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the value from the valueToSet property when you click on the button.

Use the hotKey property to enable keyboard activation on a button. Assign an alphanumeric value (A-Z or 0-9) to be used on the keyboard with the Alt key. The button is activated when the panel it resides in has focus and the user holds down the Alt key and simultaneously selects the assigned value on the keyboard. For example, Alt+B, where B is the assigned key.

When keyboard activation is enabled and the defaultButtonFlag is selected, a button can be activated by pressing the <Enter> key. In the display, the activated button will be highlighted with an extra border. While multiple objects in the display can have the defaultButtonFlag selected, it will only apply to first one added to the display. NOTE: The defaultButtonFlag property does not apply to objects that are disabled or invisible. If you are viewing the Display Server in Firefox, another control object must have focus when the <Enter> key is pressed in order for the button to be activated.

To set the bgColor and fgColor properties of a button, click on the  button and choose a color from the palette. The bgColor property sets the color of the object's background area and the fgColor property sets the color of the text. When bgColor and fgColor properties are set to Default, then the button will adopt default settings for background and foreground colors. For example, in the Display Viewer the button in your display will adopt a standard Java appearance. When that same display is viewed via Thin Client Browser, the button will conform to that browser's color preferences.

Checkbox
Attach your data to the value property to update the value displayed by the checkbox. If the value of your data attachment equals the valueToSetChecked property, the checkbox will be selected. Default values for valueToSetChecked is 1 (On) and for valueToSetUnchecked is 0 (Off).

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated when you click on the checkbox. If clicking on the checkbox selects it, then varToSet will be updated with the value of valueToSetChecked. If you click on the checkbox and it does not become selected, varToSet will be updated with the value of valueToSetUnchecked.

Radio Button Group
Use the radioListValues property to specify the labels and values for each radio button (e.g., Low,25;Medium,50;High,75), or make a data attachment to a two-column table. When attaching to a table, the first column is used for the radio button labels, the second column is used for radio button values. If only labels are specified, they will also be used as values. Specify which radio button is selected using the selectedValue property.

The orientationMode property specifies how radio buttons are populated, horizontally (by row) or vertically (by column). Specify the width, in pixels, of the space between radio buttons using the horizontalGap and verticalGap properties.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the selected value when you select a previously unselected radio button from the group.

Slider
The valueMin and valueMax properties control the range of values for the slider.  Attach your data to the value property to update the value displayed by the slider from a data attachment.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the value from the slider when you release the slider thumb after dragging it or when you click on the slider to advance the thumb one unit. Select the updateWhileAdjustingFlag to receive updates while dragging the slider thumb.

List Box
Use the listValues property to specify the labels and values for each radio button (e.g., Low,25;Medium,50;High,75), or make a data attachment to a two-column table. When attaching to a table, the first column is used for the radio button labels, the second column is used for radio button values. If only labels are specified, they will also be used as values. To set the selected list item from a data attachment, attach your data to the selectedItem property.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the selected item when you select a previously unselected item from the list box.

To set the bgColor and fgColor properties of a list box, click on the  button and choose a color from the palette. The bgColor property sets the color of the object's background area and the fgColor property sets the color of the text. When bgColor and fgColor properties are set to Default, then the list box will adopt default settings for background and foreground colors. For example, in the Display Viewer the list box in your display will adopt a standard Java appearance. When that same display is viewed via Thin Client Browser, the list box will conform to that browser's color preferences.

Combo Box
Use the listValues property to specify the labels and values for each radio button (e.g., Low,25;Medium,50;High,75), or make a data attachment to a two-column table. When attaching to a table, the first column is used for the radio button labels, the second column is used for radio button values. If only labels are specified, they will also be used as values. To set the selected menu item from a data attachment, attach your data to the selectedItem property.  Check the textEditEnabledFlag to allow the user to type a selection in addition to selecting from the drop down menu.

The actionCommand is executed and the variable attached to varToSet is updated with the selected item when you select a previously unselected item from the drop down menu or type a new item into the text entry area of the combo box.

To set the bgColor and fgColor properties of a combo box, click on the  button and choose a color from the palette. The bgColor property sets the color of the object's background area and the fgColor property sets the color of the text. When bgColor and fgColor properties are set to Default, then the combo box will adopt default settings for background and foreground colors. For example, in the Display Viewer the combo box in your display will adopt a standard Java appearance. When that same display is viewed via Thin Client Browser, the combo box will conform to that browser's color preferences.