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Group control

Use this control to add a container that enables you to logically group associated items. In the Windows client the Group has a rectangular border with a text label at the top.

Note In the Web client, a group can be displayed as a collapsible section; see the last three properties listed in the table below.

Caution When designing forms with collapsible sections, use the following guidelines to avoid formatting problems when the form is displayed in the Web client.

  • All groups on the form should be marked as Collapsible-enabled.
  • All widgets must be placed in a collapsible group box; no widgets should remain floating independently on the form.
  • Do not stack or mix collapsible group boxes with non-collapsible group boxes.

To place a group on a form, click Group and then click the form.

Property Usage
Name Specify a unique identifier for the object on the screen. (Optional)

This name is used by external applications, such as RAD, to dynamically change the properties of the object.
X Specify the object’s horizontal position based on the left edge of the object.
Y Specify the object’s vertical position based on the top edge of the object.
Width Specify the width of the object in alignment grid units.
Height Specify the height of the object in alignment grid units.
Visible Select this option to make the object visible on the form. Clear the check box to hide the object from view on the form.
Visible Condition Specify an expression to override the Visible property when that expression evaluates to true.
Caption Specify a text caption for the object.
Caption Condition Specify an expression to override the Caption property when that expression evaluates to true.
Foreground Color

Select the text color from the drop-down list.

Note The foreground color property for group boxes is controlled by the current Microsoft Windows theme that you have selected. For example, when you select "Windows XP" for the theme and the color scheme is set to "Default (Blue)" or "Silver," the foreground color for group box captions is set to blue. If you select "Windows Classic" for the theme, the foreground color property and DVD condition can be programmatically controlled, based on the settings in Forms Designer. This applies to both the Windows client and the Web client when run in Internet Explorer. The theme selection in Forms Designer does not affect the Web client when run from a Firefox browser.
Foreground Color Condition Specify a formula to evaluate the ForeColor property at run time. The result of this evaluation overrides the value assigned to the property.
Background Color Specify the Background Color. You must select the Opaque property check box for the Back Color to have an effect. The only Background Color available for a Windows client marquee is black.
Background Color Condition Specify an expression to override the BackColor property when that expression evaluates to true.
Font Select a font for the text of your label, table, timer, or marquee caption from the drop-down list.
Bold Select this option to apply bold to the label, default text, frame caption, or marquee caption.
Bold Condition Specify an expression to override the Bold property when that expression evaluates to true.
Italic Select this option to apply italics to your label, default font, or caption.
Italic Condition Specify an expression to override the Italic property when that expression evaluates to true.
Heading Level

Specify the heading level for this control so that a corresponding HTML heading tag (<h1> to <h6>) is generated.

Note This function is only supported by the Web client.

Justification Specify the justification for the object label as Left, Right, or Center.
Font Increase Specify the amount, in points, to increase or decrease the standard font size.
Font Increase Condition Specify an expression to override the Font Increase property when that expression evaluates to true.
Array Length

Specify the size of the scrolling region used to view array entries.

A scroll bar appears beside the fields to allow users to view the array entries.

  • If a field is assigned an Array Length of 5, the form stacks five fields vertically to allow users to view the five array entries.
  • If Array Length is set to -1, the form dynamically creates as many fields as there are entries in the array.
  • If the Input data type is scalar, only a single text box appears.
Note: The screen object must be associated with an array data structure.

The default is 0, which means one vertical line of information appears.
Floating group enabled

This option enables the group to change its relative position on the form so that it is not hidden when sections above it expand downward, and does not leave a blank spot after being collapsed.

Note:This option applies to the Web client only.
Collapse enabled

This option enables the group to be displayed as a collapsible section that can be expanded and collapsed by the user.

Note:This option applies to the Web client only.
Default to Expanded

Displays a collapsible group as expanded, by default. The user can close it if desired.

Note:This option applies to the Web client only.

Related concepts

Form creation
Forms Designer
Creating and editing forms
Using the drawing canvas
Forms Designer properties view
Setting properties
Enabling HTML in forms
Forms Designer best practices
Building accessible forms

Related tasks

Access Forms Designer
Create a form using the Form Wizard
Update a form

Related references

Frame control
Subform control
Forms Designer controls and tools