When
you create a date/time field, the Value tab displays several options
that you can apply to the object.
Type
Enables
run-time calculations and prompts:
-
User Entered
- Optional
-
Users can choose whether to enter data.
-
User Entered - Recommended
-
A user is recommended to enter a value in the field. If the
user enters a value, leaves the field and then clears it, a custom message
box appears (if written in the Empty Message box). A standard empty message
appears if you do not type a custom message. If the user never attempts to
enter a value in the field and tries to submit the form, a field
is required message appears and the user can choose to ignore the
message and submit the form.
-
User Entered - Required
-
A user must enter a value in the field. If the user enters a
value, leaves the field and then clears it, a custom message box
appears (if written in the Empty Message box). A standard empty
message appears if you do not type a custom message. A message only
appears if there was a value in the field, the value was deleted,
and the user exited the field without re-entering a value. If the
user never attempts to enter a value in the field and tries to submit the
form, a field is required message appears.
-
Calculated - Read Only
-
A data value will be calculated and displayed through an
attached script. Users cannot edit the calculated value.
-
Calculated - User Can Override
-
A data value will be calculated and displayed through an
attached script. Users can edit the value if the calculation script
has been written to accept the input. If a user does edit the calculated
value, the custom message you specify in the Override Message box
appears.
-
Protected
-
Prevents a user from making changes to the value in the field. Indirect
changes such as calculations can occur. The protected field is not included
in the tabbing sequence and it does not generate events.
-
Read Only
-
A data value will be merged or calculated and displayed at
run time. Users cannot edit the value.
Default
Sets
an initial value for the field. The value is formatted according
to the option selected in the Select Type list in the Patterns dialog
box, but must conform to the value in the short date or time format
according to the locale specified for the field. See
Date formats
and
Time formats
to learn more about short dates and times. If the
data is bound and a data pattern has been specified, the value must match
the data pattern specified in the Binding tab. See
To specify a default value
.
Note:
This option
is available only when the Type option is set to User Entered - Optional,
User Entered - Recommended, User Entered - Required, or Read Only.
Empty Message
Sets a message for prompting users to enter a
recommended or required value. See
To prompt users to enter data
.
Note:
This option
is available only when the Type option is set to User Entered - Recommended
or User Entered - Required.
Validation Pattern
Sets a validation pattern for validating user
input. The pattern must match the syntax of the user input.
Note:
This option is not available when the Type option
is set to Protected, Calculated - Read Only or Read Only.
Validation Pattern Message and Error
Sets a custom message to display
when a raw value does not match the validation pattern. By default,
this situation causes a programming error to be generated at run
time. To generate a warning instead, deselect the Error option. See
To validate user input
.
Note:
Dynamic properties
are identified by active labels that have a green underline that
you can click to dynamically bind the property to a data source.
To turn active labels on and off, use the Show Dynamic Properties
command in the Object palette menu. See
Dynamically populate a validation pattern message
.
Validation Script Message and Error
Sets a custom message to display
when an attached validation script detects an unacceptable value.
By default, this situation causes a programming error to be generated
at run time. To generate a warning instead, deselect the Error option. See
To validate user input
.
Note:
This option
is not available when the Type option is set to Calculated - Read Only
or Read Only. Validation Script Message is a dynamic property. Dynamic properties
are identified by active labels that have a green underline that
you can click to dynamically bind the property to a data source.
To turn active labels on and off, use the Show Dynamic Properties
command in the Object palette menu. See
Dynamically populate a validation script message
.
Calculation Script
The value will be calculated by a script written
for the object’s
calculate
event.
Note:
This option is available only when the Type option
is set to Calculated - Read Only.
Runtime Property
Sets the following run-time
property for the object. When you select a run-time property, the
actual value corresponding to the option is inserted dynamically when
the form is rendered.
-
Current Date/Time
-
Display the current date and time in the date/time field.
Note:
This option is available only when the Type option
is set to Calculated - Read Only.
Override Message
Sets a custom message to inform users that they
are changing the value of a calculated field. The message appears
when a user changes the calculated value.
Note:
This
option is available only when the Type option is set to Calculated
- User Can Override.
