Change field attributes on runtime
With the change attribute command, form field attributes (layout control properties) can be changed on run time.
This command can only be used in the FORM-TO-WS or WS-TO-FORM logic of a CobolForm.
The syntax for this command is as follows:
CHANGE [ATTRIBUTE] <Attribute> OF <FieldName> TO <Value>
Note: the keyword 'ATTRIBUTE' is optional.
| Parameter | Description |
| <Attribute> | The attribute to be changed, possible attributes are listed in the table below. |
| <FieldName> | The name of a form field (layout control). |
| <Value> | The new value of the form field attribute. |
| Attributes | Description | Value type |
| ENABLED | Enable or disable a layout control, enabled is not supported for labels. | <Boolean> (TRUE/FALSE) |
| FONTBOLD | Determines whether or not the text (caption) in the control must be displayed in bold. | <Boolean> (TRUE/FALSE) |
| FONTITALIC | Determines whether or not the text (caption) in the control must be displayed italicized. | <Boolean> (TRUE/FALSE) |
| FONTUNDERLINE | Determines whether or not the text (caption) must be displayed underlined. | <Boolean> (TRUE/FALSE) |
| LEFT | Number of pixels space before the control. If the control is related to a parent, then the number of space is measured from the beginning (left) of the parent until the beginning of the control. Otherwise, the space is measured from the beginning of the form. | <Numeric> |
| TOP | Position where the control is painted. If the control is related to a parent, the value indicates the number of pixels between the top position of the control and the top position its parent. Otherwise, the value indicates the number of pixels between the top of the control and the top of the form. | <Numeric> |
| VISIBLE | If set "FALSE", then the control will not be shown at runtime. | <Boolean> (TRUE/FALSE) |
Example:
PROCEDURE DIVISION.
WS-TO-FORM SECTION.
INIT-WS-TO-FORM.
CHANGE ATTRIBUTE ENABLED OF COMPANYNAME TO FALSE.
CHANGE ATTRIBUTE VISIBLE OF VATNR TO FALSE.
CHANGE ATTRIBUTE FONTUNDERLINE OF CUSTOMERTYPE TO TRUE.
CHANGE LEFT OF PHONENR TO 50.
CHANGE TOP OF PHONENR TO 150.
EXIT-WS-TO-FORM-END.
EXIT.
...