Data Classes

Class Name

Key to the data classes file (providex.dcl). When entering a new data class name, spaces are not allowed. Maximum length is 30 characters.

Click the Query button (binoculars) for a list of defined data classes (if any). Click the Browse buttons to browse to existing data classes. Click the Copy Class button to copy an existing data class to a new data class. If unsaved changes are detected when selecting these buttons, a message will display to save the changes.

(First/Last Class browse buttons were added in PxPlus 2019.)

(Add/Edit Notes)

(Available when a new or existing data Class Name is entered or selected)

Button used to add (or edit) notes for a new or existing data class. Maximum 1024 characters. The button's appearance and tooltip change to indicate that a note was added for the data class.

(The Add/Edit Notes button was added in PxPlus 2022.)

(Copy Class)

(Available when an existing data Class Name is selected)

Button used to create a new data class by copying the settings from an existing data class. Once it is created, the new data class must be saved, as the Copy process does not do this.

(The Copy Class button was added in PxPlus 2019.)

Last Class Change

This information is updated automatically whenever a change is made to the data class definition.

(Last Class Change was added in PxPlus 2023.)

Control Type

Default control type used to represent the data that belongs to your defined data class. Click the drop-down arrow for a list of selections: Multi Line, Drop Box, List Box, Radio Buttons, Check Box. (Default is Multi Line.)

The control type lets the NOMADS Panel Designer and File Maintenance Generator know which type of control to use for representing the data element.

Description

Generic description of the data class (Fixed value, Expression or Message Library Reference). This will be copied to the data dictionary when the data class is applied to an element. See Element Description.

*Dynamic

(Not Applicable for Radio Buttons)

Internal Data Type

Internal format of the data when manipulated by a program, either String or Numeric. (Default is String.)

Internal Size

Maximum size of the stored data element. When the Control Type is Radio Buttons, the Internal Size is 1.

Display

Properties

Attributes

Attributes

User Tag Field

For controls, data/tag field which can be used to pass information on such things as formatting, error messages or validation rules. Field contents are placed in a variable using the control name with a .TAG$ extension.

User Aids

Help Reference

Floating Tip

Mouse pointer message for the control (Fixed value, string Expression or Message Library Reference).

You can customize the floating tip by adding a tip title, descriptive tip text and a hyperlink. These features enhance the visual display and functionality of the tip by providing users with much needed information at their fingertips. You can define either a Standard tip or an HTML tip that provides a simplified HTML Editor for customizing the tip text. To do this, click the button to the right of the Floating Tip multi-line input to invoke the Define Info Tip dialogue. See Defining an Info Tip.

Note:
The Floating Tip drop box and multi-ine input cannot be changed once an HTML tip has been defined.

Message Bar

Text to be displayed in the panel's status bar when focus is on the control (Fixed value, string Expression or Message Library Reference).

Popup Menu

Button that is used to assign a popup menu to a data class (Fixed value or Expression, to be evaluated at run time when the popup signal occurs). A check mark displayed on the button indicates that a popup menu is currently assigned to the data class. This button invokes the Assign Popup Menu window for assigning Prior Popup logic, a pre-defined popup object or user-defined program. If selected, Prior Popup logic will be executed before the popup menu is displayed. If On Select logic exists for the control with the popup menu, this will be triggered before the popup event.

Select the Panel option in the Assign Popup Menu window to display a pre-set list of popup objects available for the highlighted library. The Program option is used to add a user-defined program. This can be either a Fixed value or Expression to be evaluated at run time when the popup signal occurs.

Write

Adds a new data class definition or updates an existing definition.

Delete

(Available when an existing data class is selected)

Removes the selected data class definition. Before proceeding, a message asks to confirm the deletion, as deleting a data class in use may cause issues.

Clear

Clears the current data class definition to allow you to define a new data class or select an existing definition.

Exit

Closes Data Class Definitions maintenance without saving any changes.