This is a quick tip that allows you (the Progress programmer) to quickly and easily place a combo-box in a frame, and have the combo-box be populated, at run-time, with values from the records in the table.  It does this by defining a custom combo-box, which, when dropped in a frame, runs a dialog-box that asks you for the requisite information (table name, field name, and, optionally, a where clause).  The code is then generated to populate the combo-box.

To use this technique, first download TTTneatstuff.zip.  The file tttechno.cst can be placed anywhere convenient, but the file d-combo-fill.w must be placed in a directory in your propath.

Next, run the AppBuilder and from the Palette window select Menu à Use Custom.  Add the file tttechno.cst to the list of custom object files.  Then choose Menu à Options à Save Palette.

To add an auto-loading combo-box to a frame, right-click on the combo-box icon in the Palette window, and choose Auto-filled.  Then drop it on the frame.

Critics will point out that combo-boxes shouldn't used be used with a large number of options, which is possible with this tool.  I agree, use this responsibly.  And you may want to use this as just a starting point to build your own custom widgets.

Copyright © 2005 Tim Townsend Technologies. All rights reserved.
Revised: July 04, 2005 .