Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress Dynamics Basic Development

Assigning objects to the container

Again, the container can be for a window (Page 0), or for a page of a tab folder, or it can be appropriate for both. Typically, most of the objects you place in the layout will be template objects, to be replaced by specific objects of that type when you build windows and pages from the layouts. The standard exceptions to this are toolbar objects and folder objects. You will likely select a specific named toolbar type (or possibly more than one) as a fixed component of many types of containers.

Object instance details

The section is made up of four distinct toolsets. The first is the object instances details where typical IO functions are supported and the current object’s are edited, as shown in Figure 8–7.

Figure 8–7: Object instances details

The IO buttons on the Object Instance editor are, in order:

Add, Delete, Undo, Cancel Add (Reset)
Cut, Copy, Cancel Cut/Copy, Paste
Object Properties, Dynamic Properties

Layout grid

The layout grid is central to managing information of the object instances. It displays all the objects per page in their current positions, and the highlighted object’s details are displayed alongside in the details section.

Figure 8–8 shows the layout grid.

Figure 8–8: Layout grid

Pages of the layout grid

The first tab is the container itself, the ‘Main Page’ or ‘Page0’. Selecting a tab displays the objects on that page, both visual and nonvisual, depending on the view (icon) selected. The exact layout of these objects is represented in the grid.

Moving an object to a different position/page

This is achieved by simply dragging and dropping objects on their desired position, provided it is available; indicated by a white cell.

A few considerations to bear in mind when placing an object:

If an object is center-justified, only that object is allowed on the specific row.
Two adjacent objects cannot have the same justification, for example both right.
If an object is dropped on another, the system determines if the two can be swapped, and if not, you are warned.

Advanced layout grid features

These are made available by right-clicking on the Grid to invoke a pop-up menu, as shown in Figure 8–9.

Figure 8–9: Advanced layout grid features

The Advanced Features are as follows:

Left aligned — Aligns the object so that it is left-justified. Indicated on the pop-up menu by a checkmark. The Layout Grid evaluates valid alignment adjustments and disables invalid options (visual only).
Center aligned — Aligns the object so that it would be centered. Indicated on the pop-up menu by a checkmark. The Layout Grid evaluates valid alignment adjustments and disables invalid options (visual only).
Right aligned — Aligns the object so that it would be right-justified. Indicated on the pop-up menu by a checkmark. The Layout Grid evaluates valid alignment adjustments and disables invalid options (visual only).
Quick-Link Source — Flags the object as a source for a SmartLink and is reflected in the Quick Link tool when the object is selected.
Quick-Link Target — Flags the object as a target for a Smartlink and is reflected in the Quick Link tool when the object is selected.
Cut — Flags the object as such until the object is pasted elsewhere. This makes moving objects between pages easy. This is currently limited to one object, so if the cut action is used successively, only the last object has a cut status. The grid displays available cells for the object to be pasted.
Copy — Flags the object as such until the object is pasted elsewhere. This makes copying objects easy. This is currently limited to one object, so if the copy action is used successively, only the last object has a copy status. The grid displays available cells for the object to be pasted.
Cancel Cut/Copy — When you have either cut or copied an object, grid positions become available (white). Select this option to cancel the Cut or Copy action, and the cells return to their normal status.
Paste — Remains disabled unless the Cut or Copy action has been initiated on an object.
Edit Master — Opens the master version of the object in the AppBuilder for editing.
Edit SuperProcedure — Opens the Procedure Editor with the super procedure of the selected object for editing.
Edit DL Procedure — Opens the data logic procedure of the selected object in the Procedure Editor window for editing.
Delete — Deletes the selected objects, along with any links associated with it.
Object Properties — Launches the AppBuilder Property Sheet for the selected object.
Dynamic Properties — Launches the Dynamic Properties Sheet for the selected object.

Object types

The two icons shown in Figure 8–10 indicate whether the objects for a page being viewed are visual or non-visual in nature courtesy of the presence of a red check mark on either. Typically, nonvisual objects are data source objects.

Figure 8–10: Object type selectors

Add Quick-Link tool

The Add Quick Link tool, as shown in Figure 8–11, enables developers to quickly link objects together, even objects that exist on different pages. This works effectively thanks to the visual nature of the layout in conjunction with the drag-and-drop functionality.

Figure 8–11: Add Quick-Link tool

Using the Add Quick-Link tool

The Add Quick-Link tool is the easiest way to add a link.

To add a quick link:

Select the object to be used as the source. Drag and drop it out of the grid onto the source area. Alternatively, use the pop-up menu and select the appropriate option on the layout grid.
Select the object to be used as the target. Drag and drop it out of the grid onto the target area. Alternatively, use the pop-up menu and select the appropriate option on the layout grid.
Select a valid link type.
Click Save.

Considerations when using the Add Quick-Link tool:

If a link already exists, the source and target areas will be gray and the Save button disabled until the link type is changed, as shown in Figure 8–12.



Figure 8–12: Add Quick-Link tool disabled
The tool provides the functionality to swap source and target objects by clicking on the bidirectional arrow at the bottom of the Add Quick-Link tool, as shown in Figure 8–13.



Figure 8–13: Add Quick-Link tool enabled

Adding an object

The Container Build has a grid for placing objects.

To select an object to add to the container:

On the Object Instance region of the Container Builder, select the Add button. The layout grid shows all the available cells where the object can be placed, as shown:



Complete the necessary fields:
Object lookup — Select the object to be placed.
Name — The instance name of the object, defaults to the actual object name.
Description — Defaults to the short description of the object.
Complete the optional fields (only available for visual objects):
Resize horizontal/vertical — Gives you the option of allowing an object to dynamically resize on either plane at run time.
Justification — Allows you to define the alignment of every object.
Select the relative position of the object by clicking in any one of the available cells, indicated by a white background in contrast to the chosen background color.
Click Save.