Using the keyboard in a dialogΒΆ

Using the keyboard in a dialog

The following keys are used to move between and to activate controls while the dialog command is active:

TAB, BACKTAB

Move forward or backward through the controls, preserving the current data or state. In textbox groups and push button groups, moves through each individual control, and then out of the group to the next/previous control or group. In checkbox and radio button groups, moves forwards/backwards out of the group.

If the OPT_TABOUT option flag is applied to a textbox group or push button group, the TAB and BACKTAB keys move focus to the next or previous control, rather than moving focus through controls within the group. See Button options, Textbox options.

In an editable table, these keys move to the next and previous cell. The CTRL-TAB and CTRL-BACKTAB keys move to the next or previous control.

Multi-row textboxes

If a textbox group contains multi-row textboxes, the TAB and BACKTAB keys stay on the current row when used between consecutive multi-row textboxes, or move to the last row if the textbox being moved to contains fewer rows. If a single-row textbox intervenes the row is not preserved and the first row is always selected.

If a textbox group contains only multi-row textboxes, the TAB key moves along the top row of each textbox and then down to the second row of the first textbox, and so on. The BACKTAB key moves left and then up, in the same way.

Free format textboxes

These are treated in the same way as single-row textboxes by TAB and BACKTAB.

Radio buttons groups

The currently selected button is always given focus first, regardless of the key that was used to reach the group.

BACKSPACE

During data entry into a textbox this key deletes the previous character and moves the cursor left. If text is highlighted, pressing BACKSPACE deletes it. This key cannot be used to move between controls.

DOWN, UP ARROW

Buttons

In all button groups, these keys cycle forwards/backwards through the buttons in the group.

Listboxes

Move up and down the rows of a LIST_BOX, or of an opened LIST_BUTTON or LIST_EDIT. From an unopened LIST_BUTTON or LIST_EDIT, display the previous | next line of the list without opening the box.

Textboxes

In textboxes with multiple rows or free format, the keys move down or up through the rows. In Sculptor versions earlier than 4.2, UP ARROW exits from the top row and DOWN ARROW from the bottom row; in versions 4.2 and later they are ignored when used from these rows. The !compat textbox declaration is available to set backward compatibility.

RIGHT, LEFT ARROW

Buttons

These keys work exactly as DOWN/UP ARROW.

Listboxes

The same as DOWN/UP ARROW, except in a LIST_EDIT where they move the cursor to the left or right within the box.

Textboxes

Move the cursor to the left or right within the textbox. See !compat arrowkeys.

CTRL-DOWN ARROW, CTRL-UP ARROW

In an editable table, these keys move focus to the cell immediately below or above the currently selected cell.

CTRL-PAGEDOWN, CTRL-PAGEUP

In an editable table, these keys move focus to the cell one page below or above the currently selected cell.

RETURN

Buttons

Selects push buttons - the button is momentarily selected before reverting to the normal state. Has no effect on radio or checkbox buttons. Presses the default button if one is defined.

Listboxes

Opens or closes a LIST_BUTTON or LIST_EDIT. Adouble click event is generated when a box is closed, or when RETURN is pressed in a LIST_BOX (where it has no other effect).

Textboxes

Presses the default button if one is defined. Otherwise works exactly as TAB.

SPACE

Changes the state of a checkbox button or of a line in a multiple selection LIST_BOX.

HOME/END

Listboxes

Move to the first/last line of a LIST_BOX, or of an opened LIST_BUTTON or LIST_EDIT. From an unopened LIST_BUTTON or LIST_EDIT, display the first/last line of the list without opening the box. PAGE UP and PAGE DOWN have the same effect, except that they move to the top or bottom of the current list, and then to the top or bottom of the next or previous page.

Textboxes

Move to the start/end of the data in the box.

ESC

Presses the cancel button if one is defined. Otherwise, transfers control to the line label specified in the cancel = label clause, if one is defined. Otherwise has no effect.

F10

If a menu is defined for the current window, moves to the menu.

SHIFT-F10

Moves between windows.


RELATED TOPICS

Buttons

Button groups

Textboxes

Textbox groups

Listboxes

Tables

Menus