Using data types

Each field can either use its own data type or share a data type with other fields that have similar display and storage characteristics. For instance, a single data type can be used by several string fields to specify how those fields function in your application. The fields sharing the same data type will have the same keyable length, storage size and static values. If you change one of these characteristics for the data type, such as the keyable length, all fields using this data type will reflect the change.

In the following example, three address fields use the same data type. Although the fields belong to different tables and display different information, the information is stored and displayed in the same manner because each uses the same data type:

The following data type defines the characteristics of a Save button.

Push buttons

Push buttons can be clicked using access keys (pressing alt in combination with a letter). At runtime, an underscore beneath one of the letters in the static text for the push button indicates the button has an access key. In the following illustration, typingALT+S will click the Select button.

To define the access key, place an ampersand (&) in the static text value for the button before the letter that will act as the access key. For the Select button, &Select is the static text value used.

Radio buttons

To make radio buttons work properly in your application, you need to understand how they operate. Two control types are used: radio button and radio group. You create a radio button data type for each radio button that will appear in the group. You also create a radio group data type that will group the radio buttons. For example, the Payment Method radio group shown in the following illustration uses the data types listed in the table.

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