GUI ScreenIO for Windows

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Hot Fields

A field that causes GUI ScreenIO to return an event to your program is called a hot field. 

The conditions that cause a hot return vary depending on the type of control, and are specified in the properties for the specific control.  

For example, an edit control can be set to return to your program when the user:

• Leaves the field (whether by tabbing or by using the mouse to activate another control or panel)
• Leaves the field (but only if the field was modified)
• Fills an edit control with valid characters (e.g., if a field is PIC 9(3), it will return after the third numeric digit is typed)
• Enters the field.

Consider the implications of enabling hot fields, and don't get carried away, since it can make your program needlessly more complex or impact performance.

For example:  If two adjacent fields have hot-leaving and hot-entering enabled, and you tab from one to the other, you will receive one return when you leave the first field, followed by another return when you activate the target field, which is redundant.

You'd generally use one or the other, but not both if you're interested in these situations.

Hot fields return events, the same as menu selections or pushbuttons, and are handled in exactly the same way. 

Related topics:

• Events