Topics

1. Topics • Check Boxes • Radio Buttons • Date Time Picker • Masked Text Box • List Boxes • Combo Boxes • Spinner Control “Those parts of a computer you can hit with a hammer are called hardware; those program instructions you can only curse at are called software” Unknown

2. Check Boxes • Check boxes enable the user to indicate a single “Boolean” (Yes or No) state by checking or unchecking the box • The control’s Checked property will be read as either True or False • The CheckChanged event executes if the box state is changed by the user or in code • The Text property provides a label and a hot key • Selecting the hot key toggles the checked status of the box • All check boxes act independently

3. Radio Buttons • Radio buttons belong to a group • All buttons directly on the face of the form belong to the same group • All radio buttons in the same group box are in the same group • Only one button in a group may be pressed at a time • Selecting one in a group unselects all others • All button CheckChanged events execute • The Checked property indicates whether checked or not

4. Date Time Picker Control • Presents a calendar that lets user find a date easily • Value property contains the selected date, including the current time as a datetime data type • Text property is a string representation of the Value (not available at design time) • Default Value is current system clock time • May set value in code • Other date formats are available • ValueChanged event is the default event • Very useful with date-time functions (later)

5. Masked Text Box • Provides various predefined as well as custom formats to force user input into a “mask” • Typing forces characters into available mask spaces • Control also validates input • No letters allowed in the Phone Number mask • Selecting control and thenproperties arrow gives quick access to mask dialog • Many controls have this quick access feature

6. Masked Text Box (cont.)

7. Masked Text Box (cont.) • TextMaskFormat propertydetermines if mask charactersare included in the Text property of the control • Default is IncludeLiterals (they are) • You may wish to use ExcludePromptAndLiterals • Same behavior for CutCopyMaskFormat property

8. List Boxes and Como Boxes • All of the properties and methods illustrated in code for the list box form work on combo boxes as well • Reading • Adding & removing items • Setting selected item • Code • User selection • Sorting • Text property gives access to current text

9. Adding List Items at Design Time • Add the control • Select the Items property in property window ORSelect the properties arrow on the control & choose “Edit Items” • Add one item per line in the edit window • These items willbe the initial contents of the list or combo

10. Adjusting List Items at Run Time • ControlName.Items.Add(value) • Adds value to the end of the list • ControlName.Items.Insert(index, value) • Adds the value into the list position specified by index • Other items are pushed upwards to make room • ControlName.Items.RemoveAt(index) • Removes the item in the index location • Other items are moved downward to fill in

11. List Items Properties • ControlName.Items.Count • Number of items in the list (1-based counting) • .SelectedIndex • Index in the list of the item that is selected • Zero-based numbering • If there are five items in the list • The .Count property = 5 • The items are indexed as 0 – 4 • This approach is used for any collection in .Net

12. List & Combo Box Behavior • List and Combo boxes will add vertical scroll bars when needed—allow enough width if contents are wide • List boxes and Simple combo boxes are always open • List boxes and DropDownList style combo boxes do not allow users to type in a value—must select • DropDown and Simple style combo boxes allow the user to enter a value not in the list

13. Group Boxes • Uses • Provide visual grouping of controls with a common caption • Allow a group of controls to be enabled or disabled or turned visible or invisible in one step • Allow you to create multiple independent groups of radio buttons • Text property labels the group box • I suggest a leading and trailing space so frame doesn’t pinch the text

14. Numeric UpDown (Spinner) Control • Allows user to select a numeric value using the up/down arrows • Useful properties: • Value—currently displayed number • Maximum and Minimum—smallest and largest values spinner will reach • Decimal places • Increment • ValueChanged is most useful event Use together to create a fractionally incrementing spinner