When you create a text 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 setting specified using the Patterns option on the Field
tab, but must conform to the value according to the locale specified
for the field. 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 and be
compatible with the data format selected on the Binding tab. See To validate 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 one of the following run-time properties
for the object. When you select a run-time property, the actual
value of the corresponding option is inserted dynamically when the
form is viewed:
- Current Page Number
- Inserts the current page number of the finished form.
- Number of Pages
- Inserts the total number of pages that make up the finished form.
- Viewer Locale
- Inserts the locale identifier of the locale specified for
the application that is processing the form. For example, the locale
identifier for English (USA) is en_US, where en is the language
and US is the country.
- Viewer Name
- Inserts the name of the application that is processing the
form.
- Viewer Version
- Inserts the version number of the application that is processing the
form.
- Current Sheet Number
- Inserts the number of the current piece of paper (sheet) in
the numeric field.
- Number of Sheets
- Inserts the total number of pieces of paper (sheets) that make
up the form.
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.
