HomePowerBuilderAppeon Documentation Center

Using a RichTextEdit control

Giving the user control
Text for the control
Using an ActiveX spell checking control
Formatting of rich text
Using database data
Cursor position in the RichTextEdit control
Preview and printing

A RichTextEdit control in a window or user object lets the user view or edit formatted text. Functions allow you to manipulate the contents of the control by inserting text, getting the selected text, managing input fields, and setting properties for all or some of the contents.

You define RichTextEdit controls in the Window painter or the User Object painter.

Giving the user control

In the Window or User Object painter, on the Document page of the RichTextEdit control's property sheet, you can enable or disable the features in the following table.

Features

Details

Editing bars

A toolbar for text formatting, a ruler bar, and a status bar.

Pop-up menu

Provides access to the InsertFile and clipboard commands, as well as the property sheet.

Display of nonprinting characters

Carriage returns, tabs, and spaces.

Display of fields

Whether fields are visible at all, or whether the field name or data displays. You can also change the background color for fields.

Wordwrap

Affects newly entered text only.

If the user enters new text in an existing paragraph, word wrap is triggered when the text reaches the right edge of the control. To get existing text to wrap within the display, the user can tweak the size of the control (if it is resizable).

Print margins

Print margins can be set relative to the default page size.


You can also specify a name for the document that is displayed in the print queue. The document name has nothing to do with a text file you might insert in the control.

Users can change the available tools

When users display the property sheet for the rich text document, they can change the tools that are available to them, which you might not want. For example, they might:

  • Remove the display-only setting so that they can begin editing a document you set up as protected

  • Turn off the tool, ruler, or status bars

  • View input fields' names instead of data

  • Disable the pop-up menu so that they cannot restore tools they turn off

You might want to guard against some of these possibilities. You can reset the property values for these settings in a script. For example, this statement restores the pop-up menu when triggered in an event script: 

rte_1.PopMenu = TRUE

Undoing changes

The user can press Ctrl+Z to undo a change. You can also program a button or menu item that calls the Undo function.

If Undo is called repeatedly, it continues to undo changes to a maximum of 50 changes. The script can check whether there are changes that can be undone (meaning the maximum depth has not been reached) by calling the CanUndo function: 

IF rte_1.CanUndo() THEN
   rte_1.Undo()
ELSE
   MessageBox("Stop", "Nothing to undo.")
END IF

Text for the control

Opening and saving files: an example

In the Window painter, you do not enter text in the control. Instead, in your application you can programmatically insert text or let the user enter text using the editing tools.

Setting a default font

The Font tab page in the Properties view for a RichTextEdit control lets you set default font characteristics for the control. When the control first displays at runtime, and you include the toolbar with a RichTextEdit control, the toolbar indicates the default font characteristics that you selected on the Font tab page at design time. Although the application user can change fonts at runtime, or you can use PowerScript to change the font style, you can set the default font at design time only.

Inserting text

From a file

If you have prepared a text file for your application, you can insert it with the InsertDocument function. The file can be rich text or ASCII: 

li_rtn = rte_1.InsertDocument  &
   ("c:\mydir\contacts.rtf", FALSE, FileTypeRichText!)

The boolean clearflag argument lets you specify whether to insert the file into existing text or replace it. If you want to include headers and footers from a document that you insert, you must replace the existing text by setting the clearflag argument to TRUE. (The InsertFile command on the runtime pop-up menu is equivalent to the InsertDocument function with the clearflag argument set to FALSE.)

DisplayOnly property must be set to false

You cannot insert a document into a rich text control when the control's DisplayOnly property is set to true. If you try to do this, PowerBuilder displays a runtime error message.

From a database

If you have saved rich text as a string in a database, you can use a DataStore to retrieve the text.

After retrieving data, paste the string into the RichTextEdit control: 

ls_desc = dw_1.Object.prod_desc.Primary[1]
rte_1.PasteRTF(ls_desc)

Rich text and the clipboard

The CopyRTF and PasteRTF functions let you get rich text with formatting instructions and store it in a string. If you use the clipboard by means of the Copy, Cut, and Paste functions, you get the text only -- the formatting is lost.

Example of saving rich text in a database

Suppose you have a database table that records tech support calls. Various fields record each call's date, support engineer, and customer. Another field stores notes about the call. You can let the user record notes with bold and italic formatting for emphasis by storing rich text instead of plain text.

The window for editing call information includes these controls:

  • A DataWindow control that retrieves all the data and displays everything except the call notes

  • A RichTextEdit control that displays the call notes

  • A button for updating the database

RowFocusChanged event

As row focus changes, the notes for the current row are pasted into the RichTextEdit control. The RowFocusChanged event has this script: 

string ls_richtext

// Get the string from the call_notes column
ls_richtext = dw_1.Object.call_notes[currentrow]

// Prevent flicker
rte_1.SetRedraw(FALSE) 

// Replace the old text with text for the current row
rte_1.SelectTextAll()
rte_1.Clear()
rte_1.PasteRTF(ls_richtext)
rte_1.SetRedraw(TRUE)

LoseFocus event

When the user makes changes, the changes are transferred to the DataWindow control. It is assumed that the user will click on the button or the DataWindow control when the user is through editing, triggering the LoseFocus event, which has this script: 

string ls_richtext
long l_currow
GraphicObject l_control

// Check whether RichTextEdit still has focus
// If so, don't transfer the text
l_control = GetFocus()

IF TypeOf(l_control) = RichTextEdit! THEN RETURN 0

// Prevent flicker
rte_1.SetRedraw(FALSE) 

// Store all the text in string ls_richtext
ls_richtext = rte_1.CopyRTF()

// Assign the rich text to the call_notes column
// in the current row
l_currow = dw_1.GetRow()
dw_1.Object.call_notes[l_currow] = ls_richtext
rte_1.SetRedraw(TRUE)

LoseFocus and the toolbars

A LoseFocus event occurs for the RichTextEdit control even when the user clicks a RichTextEdit toolbar. Technically, this is because the toolbars are in their own windows. However, the RichTextEdit control still has focus, which you can check with the GetFocus function.

Saving rich text in a file

You can save the rich text in the control, with the input field definitions, with the SaveDocument function. You have the choice of rich text format (RTF) or ASCII: 

rte_1.SaveDocument("c:\...\contacts.rtf", &
   FileTypeRichText!)

SaveDocument does not save the data in the input fields. It saves the document template.

Does the file exist?

If the file exists, calling SaveDocument triggers the FileExists event. In the event script, you might ask users if they want to overwrite the file.

To cancel the saving process, specify a return code of 1 in the event script.

Are there changes that need saving?

The Modified property indicates whether any changes have been made to the contents of the control. It indicates that the contents are in an unsaved state. When the first change occurs, PowerBuilder triggers the Modified event and sets the Modified property to TRUE. Calling SaveDocument sets Modified to FALSE, indicating that the document is clean.

Opening a file triggers the Modified event and sets the property because the control's contents changed. Usually, though, what you really want to know is whether the contents of the control still correspond to the contents of the file. Therefore, in the script that opens the file, you can set the Modified property to FALSE yourself. Then when the user begins editing, the Modified event is triggered again and the property is reset to TRUE.

Opening and saving files: an example

This example consists of several scripts that handle opening and saving files. Users can open existing files and save changes. They can also save the contents to another file. If users save the file they opened, saving proceeds without interrupting the user. If users save to a file name that exists, but is not the file they opened, they are asked whether to overwrite the file:

The example includes instance variable declarations, scripts, functions, and events.

Instance variable declarations

ib_saveas

A flag for the FileExists event. When FALSE, the user is saving to the file that was opened, so overwriting is expected: 

boolean ib_saveas=FALSE

is_filename

The current file name for the contents, initially set to "Untitled": 

string is_filename

Open Document script

This script opens a file chosen by the user. Since opening a file triggers the Modified event and sets the Modified property, the script resets Modified to FALSE. The Checked property of the Modified check box is set to FALSE too: 

integer li_answer, li_result
string ls_name, ls_path

li_answer = GetFileOpenName("Open File", ls_path, &
   ls_name, "rtf", &
   "Rich Text(*.RTF),*.RTF, Text files(*.TXT),*.TXT")

IF li_answer = 1 THEN
   // User did not cancel
   li_result = rte_1.InsertDocument(ls_path, TRUE)

   IF li_result = 1 THEN  // Document open successful
      // Save and display file name
      is_filename = ls_path
      st_filename.Text = is_filename

      // Save and display modified status   
      rte_1.Modified = FALSE

      cbx_modified.Checked = rte_1.Modified   
   ELSE

      MessageBox("Error", "File not opened.")   
   END IF

   END IF
RETURN 0

Scripts that save the document

The user might choose to save the document to the same name or to a new name. These scripts could be assigned to menu items as well as buttons. The Save button script checks whether the instance variable is_filename holds a valid name. If so, it passes that file name to the of_save function. If not, it triggers the SaveAs button's script instead: 

integer li_result
string ls_name

// If not associated with file, get file name
IF is_filename = "Untitled" THEN
   cb_saveas.EVENT Clicked()

ELSE
   li_result = Parent.of_save(is_filename)
END IF
RETURN 0

The SaveAs script sets the instance variable ib_saveas so that the FileExists event, if triggered, knows to ask about overwriting the file. It calls of_getfilename to prompt for a file name before passing that file name to the of_save function. 

integer li_result
string ls_name

ib_saveas = TRUE

ls_name = Parent.of_getfilename()
// If the user canceled or an error occurred, abort
IF ls_name = "" THEN RETURN -1

li_result = Parent.of_save(ls_name)

ib_saveas = FALSE
RETURN 0

Functions for saving and getting a file name

of_save function

This function accepts a file name argument and saves the document. It updates the file name instance variable with the new name and sets the check box to correspond with the Modified property, which is automatically set to FALSE after you call SaveDocument successfully: 

integer li_result

MessageBox("File name", as_name)

// Don't need a file type because the extension
// will trigger the correct type of save
li_result = rte_1.SaveDocument(as_name)

IF li_result = -1 THEN
   MessageBox("Warning", "File not saved.")
   RETURN -1
ELSE
   // File saved successfully
   is_filename = as_name
   st_filename.Text = is_filename
   cbx_modified.Checked = rte_1.Modified
   RETURN 1
END IF

of_getfilename function

The function prompts the user for a name and returns the file name the user selects. It is called when a file name has not yet been specified or when the user chooses Save As. It returns a file name: 

integer li_answer
string ls_name, ls_path

li_answer = GetFileSaveName("Document Name", ls_path, &
   ls_name, "rtf", &
   "Rich Text(*.RTF),*.RTF,Text files(*.TXT),*.TXT")

IF li_answer = 1 THEN
   // Return specified file name
   RETURN ls_path
ELSE
   RETURN ""
END IF

Events for saving and closing

FileExists event

When the user has selected a file name and the file already exists, this script warns the user and allows the save to be canceled. The event occurs when SaveDocument tries to save a file and it already exists. The script checks whether ib_saveas is TRUE and, if so, asks if the user wants to proceed with overwriting the existing file: 

integer li_answer

// If user asked to Save to same file,
// don't prompt for overwriting
IF ib_saveas = FALSE THEN RETURN 0

li_answer = MessageBox("FileExists", &
   filename + " already exists. Overwrite?", &
   Exclamation!, YesNo!)

// Returning a non-zero value cancels save
IF li_answer = 2 THEN RETURN 1

Modified event

This script sets a check box so the user can see that changes have not been saved. The Modified property is set automatically when the event occurs. The event is triggered when the first change is made to the contents of the control: 

cbx_modified.Checked = TRUE

CloseQuery event

This script for the window's CloseQuery event checks whether the control has unsaved changes and asks whether to save the document before the window closes: 

integer li_answer

// Are there unsaved changes? No, then return.
IF rte_1.Modified = FALSE THEN RETURN 0

// Ask user whether to save
li_answer = MessageBox("Document not saved", &
   "Do you want to save " + is_filename + "?", &
   Exclamation!, YesNo! )

IF li_answer = 1 THEN
   // User says save. Trigger Save button script.
   cb_save.EVENT Clicked()
END IF
RETURN 0

Using an ActiveX spell checking control

ActiveX controls can be used to spell check text in a RichTextEdit control. The supported ActiveX spell checking controls include VSSpell from ComponentOne and WSpell from Wintertree Software.

You can use the SelectedStartPos and SelectedTextLength properties of the RichTextEdit control to highlight the current position of a misspelled word in a text string that you are parsing with a supported ActiveX spell checking control. The following procedure uses an ActiveX control to spell check the entire text of the current band of a RichTextEdit control.

To spell check selected text in a RichTextEdit control:

  1. On a window with a RichTextEdit control, select Insert>Control>OLE from the window menu.

  2. Click the Insert Control tab of the Insert Object dialog box, select the installed ActiveX spell checking control, and click OK.

  3. Click inside the window in the Window painter to insert the ActiveX control.

    By default, the name of the inserted control is ole_n, where n = 1 when there are no other OLE controls on the window.

  4. Add a menu item to a menu that you associate with the current window and change its Text label to Check Spelling.

  5. Add the following code to the Clicked event of the menu item, where windowName is the name of the window containing the RichTextEdit and ActiveX controls: 

    string ls_selected
//get the current band context, and leave select mode
windowName.rte_1.selecttext(0,0,0,0)
windowName.rte_1.SelectTextAll()
ls_selected = windowName.rte_1.SelectedText()
windowName.rte_1.SelectedTextLength = 0
//assign the string content to the ActiveX control
windowName.ole_1.object.text = ls_selected
windowName.ole_1.object.start()

  6. Select the ActiveX control in the Window painter and select ReplaceWord from the event list for the control.

  7. Add the following code to the ReplaceWord event script:

    string str
str = this.object.MisspelledWord
rte_1.SelectedStartPos = this.object.WordOffset 
rte_1.SelectedTextLength  = Len(str) 
rte_1.ReplaceText(this.object.ReplacementWord)
messagebox("misspelled word", "replaced")

    The next time you run the application, you can click the Check Spelling menu item to spell check the entire contents of the current band of the RichTextEdit control.

Formatting of rich text

Input fields
Text fields
Form fields
Tables
Text frames

In a RichText control, there are several user-addressable objects:

  • The whole document

  • Selected text and paragraphs

  • Input fields

  • Text fields

  • Form fields. The type of the form field may be FormFieldCheckBox, FormFieldComboBox, FormFieldText, and FormFieldDate.

  • Text frames

  • Tables

  • Pictures

The user can make selections, use the toolbars, and display the property sheets for these objects.

Input fields get values either because the user or you specify a value or because you have called DataSource to associate the control with a DataWindow object or DataStore.

Input fields

An input field is a named value. You name it and you determine what it means by setting its value. The value is associated with the input field name. You can have several fields with the same name and they all display the same value. If the user edits one of them, they all change.

In this sample text, an input field for the customer's name is repeated throughout:

Hello {customer}!

We know that you, {customer}, will be excited about our new deal. Please call soon, {customer}, and save money now.

In a script, you can set the value of the customer field:

rte_1.InputFieldChangeData("customer", "Mary")

Then the text would look like this:

Hello Mary!

We know that you, Mary, will be excited about our new deal. Please call soon, Mary, and save money now.

The user can also set the value. There are two methods:

  • Selecting it and typing a new value

  • Displaying the Input Field property sheet and editing the Data Value text box

Inserting input fields in a script

The InputFieldInsert function inserts a field at the insertion point: 

rtn = rte_1.InputFieldInsert("datafield")

In a rich text editing application, you might want the user to insert input fields. The user needs a way to specify the input field name.

In this example, the user selects a name from a ListBox containing possible input field names. The script inserts an input field at the insertion point using the selected name: 

string ls_field
integer rtn

ls_field = lb_fields.SelectedItem()
IF ls_field <> "" THEN
   rtn = rte_1.InputFieldInsert( ls_field )
   IF rtn = -1 THEN
   MessageBox("Error", "Cannot insert field.")
   END IF
ELSE
   MessageBox("No Selection", &
      "Please select an input field name.")
END IF

Input fields for dates and page numbers

To display a date or a page number in a printed document, you define an input field and set the input field's value.

To include today's date in the opening of a letter, you might:

  1. Create an input field in the text. Name it anything you want.

  2. In the script that opens the window or some other script, set the value of the input field to the current date.

    For example, if the body of the letter included an input field called TODAY, you would write a script like the following to set it: 

    integer li_rtn
li_rtn = rte_1.InputFieldChangeData( "today", &
   String(Today()) )

For information about setting page number values see What the user sees.

Text fields

A text field is certain text that you hope to associate it with one of the types: standard, externallink, or internallink. If the type is externalink, it is possible to link the text to an external document or URL. If the type is internallink, it is possible to lnk the text to a location within the current document.

The following functions are provided for text fields:

  • TextFieldInsert -- Inserts a text field into the current position in a RichTextEdit control.

  • TextFieldSetText -- Sets the text of the text field in a RichTextEdit control.

  • TextFieldSetTypeAndData -- Sets the type and type data of the text field in a RichTextEdit control.

  • TextFieldGetType -- Gets the type of the specified text field in a RichTextEdit control.

  • TextFieldGetText -- Gets the text of the specified text field in a RichTextEdit control.

  • TextFieldGetTypeData -- Gets the type data of the specified text field in a RichTextEdit control.

In the following example, a text field (with a text value "Test") is inserted, and its type is set to externallink, and the link goes to https://www.appeon.com: 

integer li_rtn,li_id

li_id =  rte_1.TextFieldInsert("Test")
li_rtn = rte_1.TextFieldSetTypeAndData (li_id,"externallink","https://www.appeon.com/")
MessageBox("TextFieldSetTypeAndData",string(li_rtn))
Form fields

The following form field types are allowed in a RichTextEdit document: FormFieldCheckBox, FormFieldComboBox, FormFieldText, and FormFieldDate.

FormFieldCheckBox is a checkbox field in the document; FormFieldComboBox is a combo box; FormFieldDate is a date field; and FormFieldText is a text input field. The field shows as plain text by default. When clicked, it will turn to the field that allows user interaction. Specifically, the checkbox field can be selected or unselected; the combo box displays a dropdown with all the available value options; the date field provides a date picker, and the text input field allows the end users to enter text in it.

Note

When executing the SaveDocument function to save the content of a RichTextEdit control to a PDF file, the form fields can be still editable in the PDF file.

A number of functions are provided for working with the form fields.

Tables

It is possible to add tables in a RichTextEdit document. A number of functions are provided for working with the tables.

Text frames

It is possible to add text frames in a RichTextEdit document. For text frames, you may define its size, set the back color and marker lines.

Using database data

You can make a connection between a RichTextEdit control and a DataWindow control or DataStore object. When an input field in the RichTextEdit control has the same name as a column or computed column in the DataWindow object, it displays the associated data.

Whether or not the RichTextEdit control has a data source, there is always only one copy of the rich text content. While editing, you might visualize the RichTextEdit contents as a template into which row after row of data can be inserted. While scrolling from row to row, you might think of many instances of the document in which the text is fixed but the input field data changes.

To share data between a DataWindow object or DataStore, use the DataSource function: 

rte_1.DataSource(ds_empdata)

Example of sharing data

If the DataWindow object associated with the DataStore ds_empdata has the four columns emp_id, emp_lname, emp_fname, and state, the RichTextEdit content might include text and input fields like this:

Sample letter with columns from the employee table

ID: {emp_id}

Dear {emp_fname} {emp_lname}:

We are opening a new plant in Mexico. If you would like to transfer from {state} to Mexico, the company will cover all expenses.

Navigating rows and pages

For the RichTextEdit control, navigation keys let the user move among the pages of the document. However, you must provide scrolling controls so that the user can move from row to row.

You should provide Prior Row and Next Row buttons. The scripts for the buttons are simple. For Next Row: 

rte_1.ScrollNextRow()

For Prior Row:

rte_1.ScrollPriorRow()

If you also provide page buttons, then when the user is on the last page of the document for one row, scrolling to the next page moves to the first page for the next row: 

rte_1.ScrollNextPage()

Cursor position in the RichTextEdit control

Functions provide several ways to find out what is selected and to select text in the RichTextEdit control.

Where is the insertion point or what is selected?

The text always contains an insertion point and it can contain a selection, which is shown as highlighted text. When there is a selection, the position of the insertion point can be at the start or the end of the selection, depending on how the selection is made. If the user drags from beginning to end, the insertion point is at the end. If the user drags from end to beginning, the insertion point is at the beginning.

The Position function provides information about the selection and the insertion point.

For more information, see the section called “Position” in PowerScript Reference.

Changing the cursor image

The Pointer page of the Rich Text Object property sheet has a list box with stock pointers that can be used to indicate cursor position in a RichTextEdit control or RichText DataWindow. Users can change the cursor image at runtime by selecting one of these pointers and clicking OK in the Rich Text Object property sheet.

Selecting text programmatically

There are several functions that select portions of the text relative to the position of the insertion point:

  • SelectTextWord

  • SelectTextLine

  • SelectTextAll

A more general text selection function is SelectText. You specify the line and character number of the start and end of the selection.

Passing values to SelectText

Because values obtained with Position provide more information than simply a selection range, you cannot pass the values directly to SelectText. In particular, zero is not a valid character position when selecting text, although it is meaningful in describing the selection.

For more information, see the section called “Position” in PowerScript Reference.

For an example of selecting words one by one for the purposes of spell checking, see the section called “SelectTextWord” in PowerScript Reference.

Tab order, focus, and the selection

Tab order

For a window or user object, you include the RichTextEdit control in the tab order of controls. However, after the user tabs to the RichTextEdit control, pressing the tab key inserts tabs into the text. The user cannot tab out to other controls. Keep this in mind when you design the tab order for a window.

Focus and the selection

When the user tabs to the RichTextEdit control, the control gets focus and the current insertion point or selection is maintained. If the user clicks the RichTextEdit control to set focus, the insertion point moves to the place the user clicks.

LoseFocus event

When the user clicks on a RichTextEdit toolbar, a LoseFocus event occurs. However, the RichTextEdit control still has focus. You can check whether the control has lost focus with the GetFocus function.

Preview and printing

The user can preview the layout and print the contents of the RichTextEdit control. In print preview mode, users see a view of the document reduced so that it fits inside the control. However, you must set the print margins and page size before you display the control in print preview mode.

There are two ways to enter print preview mode:

  • The user can press CTRL+F2 to switch between editing and print preview mode

  • You can call the Preview function in a script:

    rte_1.Preview(TRUE)

Users can page through the control contents in print preview mode by using the up arrow and down arrow keys or the Page Up and Page Down keys.

Adjusting the print margins

If you set page margins at design time, or enable headers and footers for a rich text control, application users can adjust the margins of the control at runtime. Users can do this by opening the property sheet for the RichTextEdit control to the Print Specifications tab and modifying the left, right, top, or bottom margins, or by triggering an event that changes the margins in PowerScript code. Adjusting the margins in the Rich Text Object dialog box also affects the display of the RichTextEdit control content in print preview mode.

If you do not set page margins at design time or leave them at 0, any changes the user makes to the margins at runtime are visible in print preview mode only.

Setting page size and orientation

You cannot set the default page size and page orientation at design time. However, users can set these properties at runtime from the Print Specifications tab of the Rich Text Object dialog box. This dialog box is available from the standard view only. You must also enable the pop-up menu on a RichTextEdit control to enable application users to display this dialog box.

Printing

If the RichTextEdit is using DataWindow object data, you can limit the number of rows printed by setting the Print.Page.Range property for the DataWindow control. Its value is a string that lists the page numbers that you want to print. A dash indicates a range.

Example of a page range

Suppose your RichTextEdit control has a data source in the control dw_source. Your rich text document is three pages and you want to print the information for rows 2 and 5. You can set the page range property before you print: 

dw_source.Object.DataWindow.Print.Page.Range = &
   "4-6,13-15"

You can also filter or discard rows so that they are not printed.

For more information, see the SetFilter, Filter, RowsMove, and RowsDiscard functions in PowerScript Reference and the Print DataWindow object property in the section called “Print.property” in DataWindow Reference.

Inserting footer text programmatically

This sample code sets the insertion point in the footer and inserts two blank lines, text, and two input fields: 

rte_1.SelectText(1, 1, 0, 0, Footer!)
rte_1.ReplaceText("~r~n~r~nRow ")
rte_1.InputFieldInsert("row")
rte_1.ReplaceText(" Page ")
rte_1.InputFieldInsert("page")
rte_1.SetAlignment(Center!)
Prev  Up  Next
Using a RichText DataWindow object  Home  Rich text and the end user