| Navigation: Dictionary Editor >====== New/Edit Key Properties Dialog ====== |    |
adm4 optionsadm4 commentsadm4 general
Click on a TAB to see its help
This dialog allows you to define a key for the currently selected file. See Also: How to Create a Key
The Dictionary Editor allows you to add keys and their components one after another, quickly. Each time you complete and close the Properties dialogs for one key, another blank dialog appears, ready for the next. Press Cancel when a blank dialog appears after completing the last key, to return to the Column/Key Definition dialog.
General
Key Name
To specify a Clarion label for the key, type a valid Clarion label in this field.
Remember that you cannot give a key the same name as one of the fields within the RECORD. One common convention is to use the field name plus the word “key,” as in LastNameKey.
Description
To place a text description for the key in the Data Dictionary, type it in this field. The description appears in dialogs such as the File Definition dialog. If you anticipate using many keys for your application, we recommend filling in this field.
Clarion's Wizards use this description when creating Browses, Forms, and Reports.
Type
To specify a record key, static index file, dynamic index file or Order, choose an option button in the Type group. The Static Index and Dynamic Index options are disabled when the Require Unique Value box on the Attributes tab is checked, because indexes allow duplicates. Order adds a sort order definition to a template symbol (%ORDER) in a similar manner as a KEY without affecting the file declaration.
Note: Orders specified in a dictionary are not yet supported in the included templates. Some third party templates may use this option.
Attributes
External Name
To specify a DOS filename for an external key, type a valid DOS filename in this field.
Require Unique Value
To disallow multiple records with duplicate values in their keys, check this box. This option is valid only for keys, and is disabled for indexes.
Primary Key
To establish the current key as the Primary key, mark this checkbox. The Application Generator adds the PRIMARY attribute. This may be required for certain file drivers.
The primary key must be unique and exclude nulls.
Auto Number
To specify the Application Generator should create code to manage record sequence numbers, check this box.
Case Sensitive
To sort according to case, check this box. When creating or updating the key, all capital letters will precede the lower case letters, as per their positions in the ASCII table.
Exclude Empty Keys
To exclude records with a null or zero value from the key, check this box.
Columns
Specify the components of keys (the field or fields)-using the Fields tab. You may specify more than one field for a key. Each field is appended to the Keys list in the Field/Keys Definition dialog.
The Fields tab features a list displaying the components.
Sort Order
Choose either the Ascending or Descending radio buttons to specify the order for the highlighted component.
Note: Not all file drivers support mixing ascending and descending components in the same key.
Insert
Calls the Insert Key Component dialog listing the available fields. DOUBLE-CLICK on the name of a field in the list, to place it in the key.
Delete
Removes the highlighted component from the key.
Move up/Move Down buttons
Moves the highlighted component up or down in the list.
Comments
Allows you to enter a text description describing the key. The description is solely for your convenience, and has no effect on the application. It is useful for situations in which other programmers may pick up your code later, or for when you expect to return to the project after a long period of time since you last looked at it.
This tab also contains read-only information about the selected dictionary element. It includes the date that it was created and last modified, version number, and user rights to the target element.
Options
Do Not Auto-Populate This Key
Directs the wizards to skip this Key when creating primary Browse procedures or Report procedures.
Population Order
Specifies the order in which the wizards populate keys. Choose Normal, First, or Last from the drop down list. Wizards populate in this order: all Keys specified as First, then all Keys specified as Normal, and finally all Keys specified as Last.
User Options
The IDE supports 3rd party pre-defined DCT options. These options are stored in .dctopt files.
The dctopt file is an XML file with a schema of dctopt.xsd.
Any dctopt file in <;clarion>/data/DictionaryOptions or <;userdata>\SoftVelocity\Clarion\7.0\DictionaryOptions directories will be read by the IDE.
The IDE will also automatically detect changes in these files and update the list of available options
The default for SoftVelocity is <;Clarion Root>\data\DictionaryOptions\SoftVelocity.dctopt.
To add a new entry, press the Insert button in the Options toolbar. In the subsequent dialog, you have four choices: Bool, String, Integer or Predefined. Bool is for Boolean type expressions, such as On or Off, True or False, etc.
If you choose String, the value has an ellipsis button to open a text window. This allows you to enter a string value. The maximum length for any option is 4096 characters.
If you select Integer, the user-defined option will be a numeric value.
Choose Predefined to get a property that is already defined in the designated XML file, located in the \BIN folder. This is used to set pre-defined properties for use later in the associated application. A drop list is provided to allow you to choose from the list. Selecting a property from this list not only adds the property but also activates it for use.
For add-on predefined properties, follow the instructions provided with your add-on template set.
See Also: