Drawing Non-Property Controls

Non-property controls are stand-alone controls that are not linked to item properties. Non-property controls include label, group, image, and static text controls.

You can create the following non-property controls from the Tools Palette:

  • Create non-property controls (general)
  • Create Label non-property controls
  • Create Image non-property controls
  • Create Group non-property controls
  • Create Static Text non-property controls
To create a non-property control (general)
  1. Click the appropriate button on the Tools Palette. The mouse pointer changes to a cross-hair.
  2. Click and drag to draw the control on the form. A dialog box opens so you can name the control.
  3. Type a unique ID of your choosing for the control, and click OK.
To create a Label control
  1. Click the Label Control button on the Tools Palette, then click the Form Layout Area, and drag to draw the control on the form. The Create New Control dialog box opens.
  2. Select the property control to be associated with the label, and click OK.
  3. Change the Caption value to descriptive text for the control, replacing the Label: default value.
To create an Image control
  1. Click the Image Control button on the Tools Palette, then click the Form Layout Area, and drag to draw the control on the form. The Create New Control dialog box opens.
  2. Type an ID for the field that is unique within the form, and click OK. The Import Image dialog box opens.
  3. Browse to the .gif or .jpg file of your choice, and click Import.
To create a Group control
  1. Click the Group control button on the Tools Palette, then click the Form Layout Area, and drag to draw the control on the form. The Create New Control dialog box opens.
  2. Type an ID for the field that is unique within the form, and click OK. The Import Image dialog box opens.
  3. Browse to the .gif or .jpg file of your choice, and click Import.
To create a Static Text non-property control
  1. Click the Static Text Control button on the Tools Palette, then click the Form Layout Area, and drag to draw the control on the form. The Create New Control dialog box opens.
  2. Select the Display Caption Only check box, and click OK.
  3. Type the display text in the Caption value area in the Property Pane.
Note: The Static Text control is unique in that it can be either a property or non-property control. As a property control, it displays the value of a property without allowing the user to make changes. As a non-property control, it can be used to display a line of text on the form.
Parent topic: Controls