Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Getting Started:
Progress OpenEdge Studio

> ## AppBuilder Object Palette

> From the Object Palette, you can select basic objects, SmartObjects, and ActiveX (OCX) controls to insert into a design window. You can also create and insert new SmartObjects from the Object Palette.

> ##### Object Palette Options

> The Object Palette’s menu options allow you to control some characteristics of the Object Palette itself. For example, when you choose Menu Options Show Menu Only, the icons are hidden and only the Menu options appear in the Object Palette. This option is useful when you are working with a low resolution and do not want to use valuable screen space to display the palette’s icons.

> The other two Object Palette options give you control over other aspects of its appearance. If you choose Menu Options Top-Only Window, the Object Palette stays on top of all other windows, including design windows. If you choose Menu Options Save Palette, the AppBuilder saves the options, position, and size of the Object Palette for future sessions in the registry or in the `progress.ini` file.

> You can resize the Object Palette and move it to a more convenient area on your desktop or minimize it until you are ready to begin assembling your applications. To view an icon’s name, place the cursor over the icon to display the ToolTip.

> The icons in the bottom rows of the Object Palette represent SmartObjects, as shown in Figure 1–4. With the exception of the Pointer, which represents no object, all other icons on the Object Palette represent basic objects, which are also referred to as widgets.

> Figure 1–4: The AppBuilder Object Palette

> Table 1–2 lists the icons on the Object Palette and their functions. For more information about the objects in the Object Palette, see the OpenEdge Development: AppBuilder , the OpenEdge Development: ADM and SmartObjects , and the OpenEdge Development: ADM Reference .

> Table 1–2: Object Palette icons
> Icon | ToolTip | Description
> --- | --- | ---
> | Pointer | Selects an object in the design window or frame.
> | DB-Fields | Adds a database field and a query for that field.
> | Query | Adds a query and starts the QueryBuilder. The QueryBuilder widget is visible only at design time.
> | Browse | Adds a browser.
> | Frame | Adds a frame. Frames are used to visually and functionally group other objects.
> | Rectangle | Adds a rectangle. Rectangles are used to visually group other objects.
> | Image | Adds a static image.
> | Radio-Set | Adds a radio button set. This object creates a three-button radio set with generic text.
> | Toggle-Box | Adds a single check box with a generic label.
> | Slider | Adds a slider. You can define sliders as horizontal or vertical.
> | Button | Adds a pushbutton with a generic label.
> | Selection-List | Adds a scrollable selection list.
> | Editor | Adds a multi-line text editor.
> | Combo-Box | Adds a non-OCX combo box.
> | Fill-In | Adds a single-line editor.
> | Text | Adds text to a window. You can specify a font and color for the text.
> | OCX | Adds an ActiveX control.
> | CSSpin | Adds a OpenEdge Spin Button control.
> | CSComboBox | Adds a OpenEdge OCX combo box.
> | PSTimer | Adds a OpenEdge OCX Timer object.
> | SmartDataObject | Adds a SmartDataObject (SDO) I/O interface. SmartDataObjects manage the data stream to and from disk, filter records, and respond to requests from other SmartObjects.
> | SmartObject | Adds a generic ADM Smart template. You use this template to create new types of SmartObjects.
> | SmartFolder | Adds an ADM tabs widget. Tabs widgets are used in SmartFolders to provide a context in which you can visually and functionally divide an interface.
> | SmartPanel | Adds one of the predefined ADM button arrays. SmartPanels provide upstream control of other SmartObjects.
> | SmartDataBrowser | Adds an ADM data browser. SmartDataBrowsers provide a multi-record row/column interface to data.
> | SmartDataViewer | Adds an ADM data viewer. SmartDataViewers provide a single-record interface to data that you can arrange for a specific design.
> | SmartDataField | Adds customized capabilities to a SmartDataViewer.
> | SmartFilter | Adds an ADM Smart Query-By-Form.
> | SmartToolBar | Adds an ADM menu and toolbar.
> | SmartContainer | Adds an outer-level container object, such as a SmartWindow, to another container, imposing a parent/child relationship on objects that do not normally inherit from each other.
> | SmartBuisnessObject | Adds a special ADM SmartContainer that organizes the data streams of several SmartDataObjects.
> | SmartProducer | Adds an ADM message handler that creates messages to be transmitted by a Progress message service.
> | SmartConsumer | Adds an ADM message handler that receives messages transmitted by a Progress message service.
> | SmartRouter | Adds an ADM message handler that routes incoming messages from a SmartConsumer to appropriate SmartB2BObjects.
> | SmartB2BObject | Adds an ADM transformation object that transforms information to and from XML, based on a protocol shared between the message’s sender and recipient.
> | SmartSender | Adds a customizable ADM object that transforms information acording to your rules, passing the result to a SmartProducer.
> | SmartReciever | Adds a customizable ADM object that recieves information from a SmartConsumer and then transforms it acording to your rules.

> In addition to choosing an object from the Object Palette, you can choose an object from the Object Palette menu. When you choose an object from the menu, some options include specific properties for the object. For example, if you choose an Editor object from the menu, you have the additional option of choosing a Read-Only Editor object.

> You can add OCX icons or submenu options to the Object Palette by choosing Menu Add OCX and then choosing Add as Palette Icon or Add to Palette SubMenu. Specify the appropriate OCX file information. The icon or submenu option appears on the Object Palette.

> ##### Customizing the Object Palette

> In addition to providing a variety of display options for the Object Palette, the AppBuilder allows you to customize its contents. Choose Menu Use Custom to add to or modify the files that determine the Object Palette’s behavior and appearance.

> For example, if you create new SmartObject templates, you can add them to the Object Palette. You can also change certain default settings for the standard SmartObject templates.

> Note: Creating a new SmartObject template is different from fabricating a SmartObject master from an existing template, as you do in Chapter 4, " Overview of SmartObject Technology."

> ##### How the Object Palette responds to the mouse

> The icons on the Object Palette respond differently to the left and right mouse buttons:

> - Left mouse button — When you click the left button, the AppBuilder immediately enters insertion mode for basic objects and the SmartFolder. For other SmartObjects, the AppBuilder displays a dialog box from which you can choose a SmartObject master. After you select a SmartObject, the AppBuilder enters insertion mode. When you choose the OCX icon, the AppBuilder displays a dialog box from which you choose an ActiveX control.

> You can lock an Object Palette icon to insert multiple instances of an object. To lock an icon for SmartObjects or ActiveX controls, click it once. If there is more than one object of this type available, select one from the Choose dialog box that opens. After the dialog box closes, a click the object’s icon again before inserting to lock it. To lock an icon for other objects on the palette, click twice on an object. A lock image appears over an icon when you lock it. Choose the Pointer object to remove the lock.

> - Right mouse button — When you click the right button, the AppBuilder displays a pop-up menu for the object you chose. The options available on the pop-up menu depend on the selected object.

> For basic objects, the menu allows you to choose from among the available variations of the object; if there is only one type of that object available, the menu has only the Default option. This also applies to the SmartFolder.

> For SmartObjects, with the exception of the SmartFolder, the pop-up menu generally allows you to choose from among any available prefabricated SmartObject masters, or to create a new master from one of the SmartObject templates provided with the product. Instead of allowing you to create a new master, the pop-up menu for the SmartPanel allows you to create a new instance of one of the four SmartPanel templates.

> The pop-up menu for the SmartContainer has a Choose SmartContainer option. You use this option to select an existing container, such as a SmartWindow, SmartFrame, or SmartDialog. To create a new SmartContainer, choose the New icon on the AppBuilder toolbar and select the container you want from the New dialog box.

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