Prompting for retrieval criteria in a DataWindow
object
You can define your DataWindow object so that it always prompts
for retrieval criteria just before it retrieves data. PowerBuilder
allows you to prompt for criteria when retrieving data for a
DataWindow control, but not for a DataStore object.
To prompt for retrieval criteria in a DataWindow
object
-
If the Column Specifications view is not already displayed,
select View > Column Specifications from the menu bar.In the default layout for the DataWindow painter, the Column
Specifications view displays in a stacked pane under the
Properties view. All columns defined for the DataWindow object are
listed in the view. -
Select the Prompt check box next to each column for which
you want to specify retrieval criteria at runtime.When you specify prompting for criteria, PowerBuilder
displays the Specify Retrieval dialog box just before a retrieval
is to be done. (It is the last thing that happens before the
SQLPreview event.)Each column you selected in the Column Specification view
displays in the grid. Users can specify criteria here exactly as
in the grid in the Quick Select dialog box. Criteria specified
here are added to the WHERE clause for the SQL SELECT statement
defined for the DataWindow object.
Testing in PowerBuilder
You can test the prompting for criteria by retrieving data in
the Preview view of the DataWindow object.
Using edit styles
If a column uses a code table or the RadioButton, CheckBox, or
DropDownListBox edit style, an arrow displays in the column header and
users can select a value from a drop-down list when specifying
criteria:
If you do not want the drop-down list used for a column for
specifying retrieval criteria to display, select the Override Edit
check box on the General page of the column’s Properties view.
Forcing the entry of
criteria
If you have specified prompting for criteria for a column, you
can force the entry of criteria for the column by selecting the
Equality Required check box on the Behavior page of the column’s
Properties view. PowerBuilder underlines the column header in the grid
during prompting. Selection criteria for the specified column must be
entered, and the = operator must be used.
For more information
The section Using Quick
Select describes in detail how you and your users can specify
selection criteria in the grid.
The chapter on dynamic DataWindow objects in the DataWindow
Programmers Guide describes how to write code to allow users to
specify retrieval criteria at runtime.