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Introducing the ABL GUI Designer : Tasks : Working with objects : Defining properties and appearance : Creating an Alternate Layout
 
Creating an Alternate Layout
The Alternate Layout dialog is used to create and maintain layouts. Standard layout is an alternate layout with pre-defined run-time expressions.
To create an alternate layout:
1. Open a valid procedure file (.w) from the Project Explorer view.
2. Select Alternate Layout from the Layouts menu. The Alternate Layout dialog appears.
3. Do one of the following:
*Select a standard layout from the Layout drop-down. Standard layout is an alternate layout with pre-defined run-time expressions.
*If you want to create a new layout, click New. The New Layout Name dialog appears. Enter a name for the layout in the New Layout Name field.
4. Click OK. The Alternate Layout dialog reappears.
5. Do one of the following:
*Select GUI to display the layout as graphical at design time.
*Select Character to display the layout as character at design time.
6. Select the Activate Layout check box to activate the new alternate layout.
Note: The Activate Layout option does not appear when you select layout type as Master Layout from the Layout drop-down in step-2.
7. Do one of the following:
*If you want to test a run-time expression, enter the run-time expression in the Run-time Expression field. Click Check Syntax to check the syntax of the expression.
*If you do not want to test a run-time expression, select the Don't use Run-time Expression check box.
Note: Any legal expression is acceptable, as long as it resolves to a LOGICAL value. However, if you use a character string within the expression, place the string in single quotes (' ') not in double quotes (" "). If you need to use embedded quotation marks, replace the quotation marks with the tilde (~) character. This convention helps the AppBuilder generate code that avoids Compiler ambiguities.
8. Enter a comment in the Comment field. This describes the alternate layout.
9. Click OK to save your changes.
The GUI Designer reloads your design window. The name of the alternate layout appears on the top of the design window.