Multipart text box control

A multipart text box contains two text boxes, positioned side-by-side, that can contain information from different sources. You can input information, populate a box by selecting a value from a list, or show an attribute description from a table. You can place a multipart text box within a section control.

Typically, a multipart text box has a visible label, a pull-down menu in one text box, and the description of an attribute in the second box. Labels describe the type of information displayed in the box. Text boxes are often linked to select value lookups and detailed menus. Most applications typically use the second part of a multipart text box to provide a description for the value contained in the first text box.

General properties

Attribute name Description
Control ID

Each control in a presentation is assigned a unique Control ID that is read-only.

Default Label

This read-only value is the text value that is associated with the database attribute bound to this control.

Label

If you enter a text value in this field, it overrides the Default Label for the control. This label is specific to the application and is not stored in the MAXATTRIBUTE or APPFIELDDEFAULTS tables.

Attribute

You can associate this control with a database attribute. Not all attributes have a Default Label value.

Attribute for Part 2

You can associate the second part of a multipart text box with a different attribute than the one specified in the Attribute field. Typically, you configure the second part of a multipart control to display the description information for the record selected in the first part.

Data Source ID

Specify a data source ID if you want this control to use a different data source than the parent. If the control is creating a data source and the Data Source ID property is not set, the ID defaults to the ID of the control. If the data source is blank, the control inherits the data source from the parent. If no parent controls have a data source specified or if the parent is the application, MAINRECORD is the data source because it is the primary data source for the application.

In a multipart text box, the attributes for both parts must reference the same object.

Lookup

You can specify a lookup ID to link the first part of a multipart text box to a pre-formatted lookup table that pulls records from the main table. A user can select a record from the lookup table to use in this control.

Lookup IDs are stored in the lookups.xml file. To view the content of this file, export the system XML files.

Lookup for Part 2

You can specify a lookup ID to link the second part of a multipart text box to a pre-formatted lookup table that pulls records from the main table. A user can select a record from the lookup table to use in this control.

Lookup IDs are stored in the lookups.xml file. To view the content of this file, export the system XML files.

Go To Applications

You can associate a pull-down menu with this control and add application names to it that take the user to different applications.

Input Mode

Input mode options are:

  • Blank: An input mode with no value is read/write. Any information entered in this field is stored in the database column specified in the Attribute field.
  • Default: This mode is used for quick entry of default table data in tables.
  • Password: This mode is read/write and displays asterisks.
  • Password Readonly: This mode is read-only and displays asterisks.
  • Password Required: This mode is read/write and displays asterisks. The record cannot be saved unless there is a value in the field.
  • Query: This mode is read-only and shows a typed value.
  • Readonly: This mode is read-only and shows grayed-out text.
  • Required: This mode is read/write and the record cannot be saved unless the user enters a value in the field.
Input Mode for Part 2

In most cases, where the second part of a multipart text box contains a full description, the property value will be read-only.

In other cases, standard input mode options can apply.

Menu Type

You can specify the value of a menu ID in this field to link the control to a preformatted drop-down menu. Menu IDs are stored in the menus.xml file. To view the content of this file, export the system XML files.

Advanced properties

Attribute name Description
Change Event
You can configure a control to perform one of the following actions in the event of a data change to the control:
  • The REFRESHTABLE event refreshes the data source table for the control.
  • The RESETCHILDREN event deletes any child objects of the data bean of the control which then reacquires its MBOSetRemote references.
Turn Smart Fill Off?

Check this option if you want to disable smart fill which is turned on by default. Smart fill enables a user to enter a partial value in a text box which the system attempts to match to a valid value, or values, in the database. When a matching value is found, the value is entered in the text box. If the system finds more than one matching value, the user can select one from a list of matching values. If you turn smart fill off, user text is not validated during entry.

Readonly Long Description

If the value of Attribute for Part 2 is a long description, you can select this box to set the description to read only. If you leave this field cleared (the default), users can edit the long description.

Always Synchronous

If deselected, the control can communicate with the database without pausing user activities. If selected, the user cannot perform activities in other fields until validations for this field are completed. Synchronous activity is disabled by default. If there are dependencies between values specified for this control and other controls in the application, you can enable synchronous activity for the dependent controls.

Part 2 Always Synchronous

If deselected, the control can communicate with the database without pausing user activities. If selected, the user cannot perform activities in other fields until validations for this field are completed. Synchronous activity is disabled by default. If there are dependencies between values specified for this control and other controls in the application, you can enable synchronous activity for the dependent controls.

Notify Portlets

If selected, this control can send notifications to a portlet, if communication with a Tivoli Integration Portlet is configured.

More information

You can specify the values to construct a URL for a Knowledge Center topic using the following format: com.ibm.mbs.doc,application/helpfile.html The server address and other information for the URL are controlled by the mxe.help properties which you can review and configure in the System Properties application.

If you specify a URL, a More Information link is added to the field help (Alt + F1) for the control. When the user clicks the link, the target topic opens in the Knowledge Center.

The property is specific to the field ID in the presentation XML file. If you want to provide the same link in other controls or other applications, you must manually add the URL to each individual control.

Move to Data Source ID

Specify a record stored in a different object that the user can move to. You can select any Data Source ID from the presentation control.

By default, the system sends the Move To event to the ResultsBean, which contains a set of records displayed in the List tab. The Move To event affects the Move to Data Source ID object.

Signature Option

You can specify a signature option that can restrict access to this control or change the properties of this control based on a condition that you specify. To create a signature option, click Add/Modify Signature Options in the Select Action menu. To specify a condition, click the Configure Conditional Properties button.

Sig Option Data Source ID

An MBO must be used to evaluate whether or not a user has access to a signature option. Specify the value of the data source that performs this evaluation if it is different to the data source that is configured for this control.



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