Layout Modes

Two layout modes are supported, namely VarChars and FixChars.

VarChars is a new layout mode, based on measuring precise string widths. It is better suited to the use of variably spaced fonts, and removes the need for most uses of the TagWidth specifier. The benefits of using VarChars are:

• It tends to produce smaller, more pleasing forms, without unwanted space.

• No text wrap-around, except possibly in conjunction with TagWidth.

• No truncation of explicitly defined text except possibly in conjunction with TagWidth.

The recommended layout mode for all new forms is:

setup form !!formname . . . VarChars

FixChars is the old layout mode (prior to PDMS12.1), which is based on the use of notional character width to calculate the (approx.) sizes of textual gadgets and gadget tags. Because the calculated sizes are only approximate the user has to make frequent use of the gadget's Width specifier and TagWidth specifier and considerable trial and error to achieve a desired layout.

The default layout mode for setup form is FixChars, because this will be the least disruptive for existing user Appware, so FixChars mode will currently result from either of

setup form !!formname . . .

setup form !!formname . . . FixChars

See the FMSYS object method

!!FMSYS.SetDefaultFormLayout(layout is STRING)

that allows users to change the default layout mode for Setup form. This can be used to help test any existing appware which is using setup form !!formname . . ., in either mode to determine which forms need layout adjustment.