FieldFormatter: Working group

[Vaughn Clement]

Hi Hugh

This is really a breath of fresh air in that LC is starting to grow up. I
have been saying for awhile that LiveCode will evolve or go away. It may
take developers to move the stake forward in the way other software
languages have come of age. I believe that when the developers start adding
externals and plugins to LC it will start to be a better product. I
understand that there are currently some externals out there, but there is
a ton of new capability that can still be added. For example, I spent weeks
learning how to do programming tasks that should be built into LiveCode in
the properties  dialog. It was all the things your offering in your
properties in this email. This should not require hours of coding to get
such a simple task done. Plus you also covered things that I did not take
time to add like the comma for thousands. That should also be a properties
item in LiveCode just like the numeric settings.


Thank you

Vaughn Clement

Apps by Vaughn Clement (Support)
*http://www.appsbyvaughnclement.com/tools/home-page/*
Skype: vaughn.clement
https://secure.join.me/appsbyvclement
FaceTime: vclement at gmail.com
LogMeIn also avaialble
Call on "ooVoo" at address:  vaughnclement or 9282549062
Ph. 928-254-9062
Cloud Hosting Registration Web Site:
https://my.oditech.com/cart.php?a=add&pid=41


On Thu, Oct 3, 2013 at 5:07 AM, FlexibleLearning.com <
admin at flexiblelearning.com> wrote:

> A new field formatting palette and frontscript library is nearing
> completion. The properties palette, syntax and integration are all in place
> and working.
>
> - What is its purpose?
> In short it separates data from display. Field contents can, for example,
> be
> displayed as currency (or any other arbitrary unit of measure), percentage,
> dateTime, time duration or 'privatised', with numeric fields additionally
> owning their own numberFormat, negative color, and thousands separator. The
> underlying 'text' (or data) is unchanged; as soon as the field loses focus
> or as soon as we programmatically change any of the properties, the field
> contents change to reflect the new property settings.
>
> - How do we use it?
> Either using the properties palette or by script, we can
> 'set the percentage of fld n to true' : so 0.2 can be displayed as 20%
> 'set the numeric of fld n to true/false' : so only numbers can be entered
> 'set the displayChars of fld n to "$" : so 10 can be displayed as $10
> 'set the numericFormat of fld n to 0.00' : so 10 can be displayed as $10.00
> 'set the showThousands of fld n to true' : so 1250 can be displayed as
> $1,250.00
> 'set the privateChars of fld n to "......"' : so pa55w0rd can be displayed
> as privatised text
> 'set the defaultText of fld n to "Enter a date here..."' : so empty fields
> can display gray text help
> 'set the dhms of fld n to true' : so 70.38 can be displayed as 01 : 10.4
> 'set the isUSformat of fld n to false' : so 3/6/13 can be displayed as 3
> June 2013
> 'set the dateTimeFormat of fld n to "yyyy-MMM-dd"' : so 3/6/13 can be
> displayed as 2013-Jun-03
> [.../...] etc
> then
> 'put the rawtext of fld n into tQty' : so we can get the data rather than
> the field contents
> 'set the rawtext of fld "total" to tQty * tCost' : so we can manipulate the
> data and retain formatted displays.
> [.../...] etc.
>
> It should all 'just happen' intuitively.
>
> It works with both the LC and MC IDE development environments, so clicking
> twice on a field will show the new palette along with the existing IDE
> palettes.
>
> - What is needed?
> A small group of (preferably seasoned) developers to
> [1] review the palette UI
> [2] check integration and functionality
> [3] critique and make suggestions, especially about the property names and
> further functionality
> [4] discuss, propose and share with a cc to others involved
> [5] thrash the cr*p out of it :)
>
> If interested, please let me know off-list. I agree with Richard G and am
> hoping this concept will become mainstream, but it has to 'go with the
> flow'
> and be a seamless extension to the existing 'feel' of LiveCode. Longer
> term,
> I'd like it or something similar to be available at engine level, but this
> is something we can all use now.
>
> Best regards,
>
> Hugh Senior
> FLCo
>
>
>
>
>
>
>
> _______________________________________________
> use-livecode mailing list
> use-livecode at lists.runrev.com
> Please visit this url to subscribe, unsubscribe and manage your
> subscription preferences:
> http://lists.runrev.com/mailman/listinfo/use-livecode
>