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Using Controls

Users interact with applications primarily using controls on forms. For example, by clicking, typing into, and navigating controls on forms in your application, users can manipulate data and accomplish the tasks they need to perform. Visual FoxPro provides a variety of controls that you can include on forms to help users perform tasks. The following list describes main categories of application tasks you can perform using controls:

  • Provide users with a set of predetermined choices.

  • Accept user input that cannot be predetermined.

  • Accept user input in a given range.

  • Allow users to perform specific actions.

  • Perform specific actions at given intervals.

  • Display information.

For example, you can make sure that only valid data is stored in a database by providing users a specified set of options or values. To provide these predetermined choices, you can use the following controls:

  • Option buttons or option button groups.

  • List boxes and drop-down list boxes.

  • Check boxes.

Though you can use a variety of controls to perform any particular task, you should select and use controls consistently so that users can easily understand or know what to expect when they interact with your application's interface. For example, a label might contain the same Click event as a command button; however, users who are familiar with graphical interfaces expect to click command buttons, not labels, to perform actions.

In This Section

  • Creating the User Interface
    Using Visual FoxPro forms, classes, controls, menus, and toolbars, you can build interfaces that help users gain access to the full potential of your programs.

  • Creating Forms
    Your application must have forms to make it possible for users to view and enter data. However, you can customize standard forms visually and programmatically to create a specialized environment for your users.

  • Working with Forms
    After creating your form, you can run, hide, or alter it in different ways.

  • Designing Menus and Toolbars
    A good menu system tells your users a lot about the design and structure of your application. Planning menus and toolbars carefully can improve the usability of your application and provide immediate access to common tasks.