Drop List points allow the user to either select from a pre-written set of responses in a drop-down menu or write in (edit) text information.
On-screen, Drop List points appear as a caption followed by an entry box. At the right of the box is an arrow button which is used to display the pre-written selections.
In design mode there are six Style options for Drop List function: Single selection; Single selection, code-based; Single selection, editable; Single selection, edit & save; Multiple selection; Multiple selection, code-based. can be configured to allow allow text, meaning the user is free to enter any text in the box, or select from the drop list. When this option is disabled, the user can only choose a pre-written response.
Where Single selection, edit & save is enabled, this causes Pocket PC Creations to save frequently used free-text entries in the Drop List, allowing them to be easily selected in future sessions on the specific Pocket PC.
Note: When the edit & save option is enabled, if a particular cached response needs to be removed, select it twice in a row, and a prompt will appear confirming the removal.
The Multiple selection drop list enables multiple selections, which choices marked with a tick. Multiple selection Drop Lists cannot be edited on the Pocket PC.
In its normal operating mode, the result from a Drop List point is equal to the data input by the user, or the text selected from the Drop List.
A second, more advanced mode known as Code-based is available, which modifies this behaviour. When in code-based mode, a Drop List point will display a list of text selections to the user, but associate each with an alphanumeric code. When the user selects a text option, the alphanumeric code will be recorded in results. This can be particularly useful when results are to be exported to a database, or used in a Math or Logic point. To generate code based output, place a semicolon (;) between the code and the text visible in the Drop List point. For example "150;Consulting Rate", would record 150 and make the number available for math operations.
If a large number of selection options are to be included in a Drop List point, use the "Import" option to read text selections from a standard text (txt) file.
Tip: Right click of a Drop List point in the Design window provides the option to Convert to Selection Point, to create an equivalent Selection point, with the same entries.
Choose the Save as Default Value option to save the current Drop List selection as the default for the point.