Form

Inheritance Hierarchy

Description

A form is the main component, which contains all the other form designer components. The Form class is used to create standard windows, tool windows, unframed and scrollable windows. The Form class is also used to create modal windows, for example a dialog window. To define form parameters the properties and the methods implemented in the IFormControl. Active form parameters from the Fore language can be obtained by using the Active property, or by using the Self reserved identifier. Self returns the parameters of the form, in the boundaries of which it has been called.

MDI

The special type of applications is a multiwindow interface application (MDI). A MDI application is the main MDI form. The main form area shows child MDI forms as separate windows.

To create main MDI form the WindowStyle property needs to have the MDIFrame value set. Child MDI forms are created by setting in the WindowStyle property the MDIChild value.

Only following components can be used on the main MDI form: BannerBar, ControlBar, MainMenu, ReportFormulaBar, Ribbon, Toolbar. Child MDI forms can contain any components.

When an MDI application is used, all child MDI forms are displayed in a special area within the main MDI form. The upper part of this area shows tabs for all opened child MDI forms. The tabs have a context menu implemented which is used to manage opened child MDI forms. This menu includes three items:

Close window.
Close all windows but this.
Close all windows.

To activate the MDI form, either click the corresponding tab or select the form from the list that opens on clicking the button. This button is located in the right part of the tab area. To close a child MDI form, click the appropriate tab using the middle mouse button (mouse wheel). To close an active child MDI form:

Select the Close Window context menu item in the tab area.
Click the button at the right side of the tab area.

In the Fore language the child MDI-windows managing is performed by the corresponding properties and methods, implemented in the IFormControl interface. On create a child MDI windows in the CreateForm method the main MDI form must be transmitted as a parental window.

NOTE. A form, which is opened modally for its child MDI form, will exist independently of this form. When a child MDI form is closed, the forms, open for it modally, will be available. All the modal forms will be closed, when the main (MDIFrame) MDI form is closed.

Example

Form properties

	Property name	Brief description
	Active	The Active property returns the parameters of the form, which is active at the moment.
	MakeShortcut	The MakeShortcut property returns a value corresponding to a hotkey combination which needs to be assigned to some action.

Form methods

	Method name	Brief description
	CreateForm	The CreateForm method creates a new form.

Form events

	Event name	Brief description
	OnActivate	The OnActivate event occurs when a form or one of its child components gets focus.
	OnBeginDrag	The OnBeginDrag event occurs for a component, when a user starts to drag an object from the component.
	OnClick	The OnClick event occurs, if a user clicks and releases the mouse button, when the mouse cursor is over the component.
	OnClose	The OnClose event occurs just before a form is closed.
	OnCloseQuery	The OnCloseQuery event occurs when form gets command to be closed.
	OnCommand	The OnCommand event occurs when a command to this form is sent from another form.
	OnCreate	The OnCreate event occurs at the moment a form is created.
	OnDblClick	The OnDbClick event occurs, if a user double-clicks on the component.
	OnDeactivate	The OnDeactivate event occurs when a form or one of its child components loses focus.
	OnDragDrop	The OnDragDrop event occurs for a component if a user drops a dragged object over it.
	OnDragEnter	The OnDragEnter event occurs when a dragged object crosses the borders of this component.
	OnDragLeave	The OnDragLeave event occurs when a dragged object leaves the borders of this component.
	OnDragOver	The OnDragOver event occurs for this component when a user drags a dragged object over it.
	OnEnter	The OnEnter event occurs when a component receives focus.
	OnExit	The OnExit event occurs when a component loses focus.
	OnHelp	The OnHelp event occurs if a user clicks on a component in active help displaying mode, or the «F1» key is pressed for the active component.
	OnHide	The OnHide event occurs just before a form becomes hidden.
	OnMDIActivate	The OnMDIActivate event occurs when an active child MDI form is changed.
	OnKeyDown	The OnKeyDown event occurs if a component is focused and a keyboard key is pressed.
	OnKeyPress	The OnKeyPress event occurs if a component is focused when a user presses a character key.
	OnKeyPreview	The OnKeyPreview event occurs prior to each event requiring clicking.
	OnKeyUp	The OnKeyUp event occurs if a component is focused and a user releases any button previously pressed.
	OnMouseDown	The OnMouseDown event occurs, if the cursor is in component's area and a mouse button is pressed.
	OnMouseEnter	The OnMouseEnter occurs when the mouse cursor enters the component's area.
	OnMouseHover	The OnMouseHover event occurs when the mouse cursor lingers in component area.
	OnMouseLeave	The OnMouseLeave event occurs when the mouse cursor leaves the component area.
	OnMouseMove	The OnMouseMove event occurs when the mouse cursor is moved over the component.
	OnMouseUp	The OnMouseUp event occurs if user releases mouse button when the cursor is in the component area.
	OnMouseWheel	The OnMouseWheel event occurs if a component is focused when a user rotates mouse wheel.
	OnResize	The OnResize event occurs after a form is resized.
	OnShow	The OnShow event occurs just before a form is displayed.