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The Rounded Rectangle tool The Rounded Rectangle tool beneath the Polygon tool operates the same as the Rectangle tool except that the object has rounded edges.
The Freehand tool The last of the graphic tools,
Freehand tool, is next to the Rounded Rectangle button on the sixth row, second column. It creates freehand objects. Use the click-
and-drag method to draw the objects.
Figure 13.39 contains examples of each type of graphic. The area inside several of the objects is white, and is called fill. It can be made a specific color. Coloring the fill is discussed later in the chapter.
FIG. 13.39
Examples of the
Graphic Objects
created by the Tool
Palette.
The Tool Palette also contains 11 buttons used to place item objects on the canvas. These items consist of a variety of objects used to display text, represent data in a graphic manner, or display data.
The following sections describe the tools used to create the various control items.
The Text toolThe Text tool on the seventh row, first column, creates and modifies boilerplate text, which is static text that appears on the form. Text explains objects and procedures to the user. The preceding chapter discussed field labels that may be edited on the Items tab of the Default block dialog. When the block is created, the labels become textthe same type of item created by the Text tool. Text or boilerplate can only be modified by using this tool.
When you click the Text tool and make it active, the cursor changes to a crosshair. Clicking the cursor button causes an empty text frame to appear at the spot of the crosshair, and you can begin entering text into the frame. If the cursor is moved over the text frame, it changes to a white "I." Positioning the cursor over a letter and clicking the mouse places the input focus at that position. Text may be entered or deleted at that point. Figure 13.40 shows a text item, and the active cursor is the cross-beam." The input focus is a vertical line following the word "is."
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You can select and move text frames by using the regular selection tool. The Text tool is used only for entering and removing text for the frame.
FIG. 13.40
The text item with the
input focus after the
word is, and the cursor
over the word sample.
The Button Tool The Button tool (with an image of a button), next to the Text item, creates buttons. Use buttons to initiate a PL/SQL script. The Employee form used in Chapter 11 has a number of buttons that were used to scroll, query, and save records. You make this tool active by clicking it. After you click it, a default button appears on the canvas at the position where the cursor is clicked. You can resize the button by using the normal tools. Tying the button to the PL/SQL trigger is discussed in a later chapter.
The Check Box Item The Check Box item is a graphic item that represents two distinct data values. If the data item equals one value, the check box contains a check mark. If the data item does not equal the value, it remains unchecked. The item is created by first making the Check Box tool active, and then clicking on the spot where it is to be placed. You can resize and reposition it by using the normal selection techniques.
The Radio Button Tool Two concentric circles represent the Radio Button item. This item represents a data item that has a defined set of data values. Each radio button represents a distinct value in the set of values. When you select the value, the inner circle of the button is black. This circle is white when the value is not selected. Radio buttons come in sets, and only one of the values may be selected at a given time.
The Text Item Tool A Text item holds database or editable values. When you create a default block, the selected values are placed in text items. The button that activates the Text item tool has an "abc" enclosed by a box symbol. You can resize and move this item by using the normal selection techniques.
The Image ToolThe Image tool on row nine, column two, shows a colored image of a country scene on the button and holds images imported into the form. To create an image item,
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select the tool and click the spot for the image. You can resize and move the image. Image items are displayed with an "X."
The Chart Tool The Chart tool creates an object that displays a chart created by Oracle Graphics. This item will also have an "X" displayed within the object box. You can resize and move the object by using the normal tools.
The OLE Tool The Ole tool, denoted by the word "OLE,'' creates an OLE container. OLE containers bring objects created by other products into the form.
The VBX Tool The VBX tool creates an item that will hold a VBX control. A VBX control is a Visual Basic standard control developed outside Oracle Forms.
The Display Item ToolThe Display Item tool creates display items similar to text items, except values cannot be entered or edited. Values are assigned to this item programmatically during runtime. The button for this tool contains a grayed out "abc," enclosed by a box.
The List Item ToolThe final item tool, on row 12, column 2, is the List Item tool, which creates a list of values that can be displayed in the form of a pick list, combo box, or text list. The lists contain predefined sets of acceptable values. The user uses the lists to select a value for entry into the field.
At the bottom of the Tool Palette are colored buttons adjacent to three display boxes. These buttons are the color tools. Most Oracle items, such as a text item, have three color components: line, fill, and text. When an item is created, Designer places a border, or line, around the object and colors the line. Designer also colors the second component which is the area within the border, or fill Finally, Designer colors the third component which is the text itself. The color buttons are used to change the color of each of these components. Figure 13.41 illustrates the three components by using a boilerplate text item.
FIG. 13.41
The three color
components: fill,
line, and text.