Set Value Of formattedtextcontrol

[dulux-oz]

Call me stupid, but how the hell do you programmatically change the data in a formattedtextcontrol? There does not seem to be a setValue() function (or anything similar).

[Moon Wizard]

The formattedtextcontrol never had getValue/setValue calls, though though support for copying data via databasenode objects using getValue/setValue on the DB objects with the formattedtext type was added last year or so.

Regards,
JPG

[dulux-oz]

Sorry, so does that mean we've got to use a formattedtextfield and modify the linked DB.node?

So how do we get data into a formattedtextcontrol?

[Trenloe]

So how do we get data into a formattedtextcontrol?
Go directly to the database node the control is anchored/sourced. So ,yeah, use a formattedtextfield (a formattedtextcontrol anchored to a database node) and use <formattedtextfield>.getDataBaseNode.SetValue("blah, blah, blah")

https://www.fantasygrounds.com/refdoc/databasecontrol.xcp#getDatabaseNode

[Moon Wizard]

There's no way to do that currently. It would require API changes. I'll look into adding for the next cycle.

Cheers,
JPG

[Trenloe]

There's no way to do that currently. It would require API changes. I'll look into adding for the next cycle.
So, would DB.findNode(<formattedtextfield>.getDataBaseNode.getNodeName()).setValue("<p>Blah, Blah, Blah</p>"); work?

[dulux-oz]

There's no way to do that currently. It would require API changes. I'll look into adding for the next cycle.

Cheers,
JPG

OK, thanks Moon

[Moon Wizard]

Trenloe,

That approach works for formattedtextfield controls since they are linked to a database node. However, the formattedtextcontrol object doesn't have an underlying database node to access. I think this is what Dulux-oz is trying to access.

Cheers,
JPG

[Trenloe]

That approach works for formattedtextfield controls since they are linked to a database node. However, the formattedtextcontrol object doesn't have an underlying database node to access. I think this is what Dulux-oz is trying to access.
Ah, righto. :o

[dulux-oz]

However, the formattedtextcontrol object doesn't have an underlying database node to access. I think this is what Dulux-oz is trying to access.

Cheers,
JPG

Yeah, that's right.

Just as an interest thing - what use is the formattedtextcontrol object as it stands now (apart from being the super-object for the formattedtextfield - I assume) - is that its only purpose or is there some use for it that doesn't involve getValue()/setValue()? :)

Cheers

[Moon Wizard]

The original developers envisioned it originally as a read only control for reference data. It's always had less accessibility through the API.

Plus, the output is an XML string object, and there are no built in Lua libraries for manipulating XML.

Cheers,
JPG

[dulux-oz]

So if it was originally envisioned as a R/O object, how do you get data into the darn thing - because that was what I was trying to use it for?

[Moon Wizard]

I'm just giving history. I've been patching the control every release to improve functionality to the point where it actually makes sense to have API access.

The only way to populate originally was module data.

Regards,
JPG

[dulux-oz]

I appreciate the history lesson, and apologize if I came across a bit "strong" - I'm just trying to understand what's happening and what I'm doing wrong / how I've got my wires crossed.

So if the only way to populate it originally was with module data, and module data exists in nodes, then you would need/use a formattedtextfield and not a formattedtextcontrol - correct? But if that is the case then it seems to me that the formattedtextcontrol object has no purpose - apart from the added functionality you have/are putting in.

(So at this point I feel as if I'm the boy who points out that the Emperor is wearing no clothes - or have I missed the point entirely? :) )

Thanks for putting up with some inane questions.

Cheers

[damned]

(So at this point I feel as if I'm the boy who points out that the Emperor is wearing no clothes - or have I missed the point entirely? :) )

But it was a previous Emperor who implemented that Control.
The Emperor is Dead!
Long live the Emperor!

[dulux-oz]

But it was a previous Emperor who implemented that Control.
The Emperor is Dead!
Long live the Emperor!

OK, so the Emperor is wearing no coffin :p

[Moon Wizard]

You are absolutely right about formattedtextcontrol serving little purpose by itself. However, formattedtextfield derives from the control version, just like the other controls. So, it has been improved as well.

Just historical stuff that we work through slowly inline with other requirements.

Cheers,
JPG

[dulux-oz]

Cool - thanks for the explaination - I'll look forward to the setValue() functionality :)

Cheers

[dulux-oz]

Hmmm, not sure what I'm doing wrong here - the code should explain what I'm trying to do:


local oWindow = Interface.openWindow("referencetextwide","");
if not oWindow then
return;
end
oWindow.header.subwindow.name.setValue("Text Title");
oWindow.text.setValue("Some text");

The last line works, but the 2nd last line spits up an error because the subwindow is nil - a little help please :)

Cheers

[Moon Wizard]

The window instances within a sub window control do not immediately initialize until drawn the first time (i.e. control is visible). The subwindow is null in this case. There's an onSubwindowInstantiated event that fires in that case.

You're probably better off making your own custom window that uses controls instead of fields, and uses the fastinit flag for any subwindows to avoid this scenario.

Regards,
JPG