Control Selection for Particular Tasks

Visual FoxPro controls are flexible and versatile. Though there are multiple controls you could use to accomplish any particular task, you need to have a consistent approach to the controls you use so that users can tell what to expect when they see the interface you provide. For example, a label has a Click event in the same way that a command button does, but users familiar with graphical interfaces expect to click on command buttons to perform actions.

Most of the functionality you'll want to build into your forms will fall under one of the following categories:

• Providing users with a set of predetermined choices
• Accepting user input that can't be predetermined
• Accepting user input in a given range
• Allowing users to perform specific actions
• Performing specific actions at given intervals
• Displaying information

Providing a Set of Predetermined Choices

One of the most straightforward ways to ensure the validity of the data in a database is to give users a predetermined set of options. By controlling user choices, you can make sure that no invalid data is stored in the database. The following controls make it possible for you to provide users with a set of predetermined choices:

• Option button groups
• List boxes and drop-down lists
• Check boxes

Option button groups are containers that contain option buttons. Typically, option buttons make it possible for users to specify one of a number of operational options in a dialog box rather than data entry.

See Also

Controls and Data Concepts | Setting the Number of Option Buttons in an Option Button Group | Using Controls | Controls and Objects | Setting Option Button Properties