How To Use Visual FoxPro Builders

• Microsoft Visual FoxPro for Windows, versions 3.0, 5.0

SUMMARY

This article explains what Visual FoxPro Builders are and outlines some of the points about Builders.

MORE INFORMATION

Visual FoxPro Builders are tools that help you set properties for a specific control. For example, you can use a ListBox Builder to set the properties for a list box or a Grid Builder to set properties for a grid. Builders facilitate the process of setting up objects with the proper set of attributes (property values).

Builders are different from wizards in that builders are re-entrant. That is, a builder can be used repeatedly on an object without altering or destroying the original attributes the object possesses. For example, when you are creating a screen that has a command button group and you decide to add an extra command button, you can reuse the builder to do it.

Wizards, however, are not re-entrant. They are intended to be used once to create a usable item such as a simple data entry screen. Runnning a wizard a second time using the file name of an existing object will destroy the original work of the same name, including any and all modifications you made previously.

While you can edit a container object manually to add a new command button and set its properties individually, it is usually easier to run the builder over the CommandButton Group to add the new button. The builder asks a series of questions about the control you are modifying and then sets the appropriate properties to make the control work the way you want it to work.

You can also use builders to add objects to a form, not just to modify existing objects. If you want to add a new text box to a form, the builder will ask a series of questions to help define the object's attributes. When you finish the definition, the builder adds the object to the form.

Builders can be started in two ways. You can click the Builder button on the Properties window. Or you can click the Builder Lock button on the Form Controls toolbar, and then click another button on the Controls toolbar to both create a new control and automatically start the builder for that control.

Visual FoxPro supports the following Builders:

• Text Box Builder
• Edit Box Builder
• Command Group Builder
• Option Group Builder
• Combo Box Builder
• List Box Builder
• Grid Builder
• Form Builder - AutoFormat Builder - Referential Integrity Builder

To add a control by using a builder, follow these steps:

1. In the Form Controls toolbar, click the Builder Lock button.

2. Select the control you want from the Form Controls toolbar, and drop it on the form.

3. Fill in the information on the builder tabs.