Field edit mode

The FORMIK program works in two modes :

After switching to the field edit mode, additional controls to set parameters of inserted fields are displayed in the main window :

A new field can be created by clicking on a form icon using the right mouse button.  By clicking on the existing field this is highlighted and you can:

To fine adjust the filed position, you can use arrow keys (you can also fine adjust the size whereas press the Shift key). When creating a new filed, its properties (except the background) are derived from the last current one. So, when creating a new form, it is recommended to set properties of the first field (colour, characters, size...) and only then create other fields.

Te following properties can be set for every field:

Import from a text file

A serial number of the entry in a record imported from an external text file. More detailed information can be found on the page Data import

Field code

Field identification (code) max 5 characters long. This code is used in automatic texts.

Automatic text

A formula according to which FORMIK creates the text automatically (combining several different texts) and inserts it into a current field. Individual text can be entered into the formula directly or as a field code (it must be shown in parentheses), in which the text can be found.

Examples of formulas :

  • The field with the code AA is to contain first and family names whereas the first name is entered in the field with the code MEN and the family name is entered in the field with the code PRI: (Men) (Pri)
     
  • The filed with the code BB is to contain the data entered by the user but before doing so it must contain the word "Sum" (sum): Sum (BB)
     
  • The filed with the code CC is to contain the text "Test" regardless the user entered text: Test

Font

 

Style

Bold, italics, underlined or crossed, and its colour

Text alignment

Automatic alignment of the field text to the left or to the right or its centring

Text arrangement

The text is arranged equally into the specified number of parts (for the needs of "window" fields). You can also select text alignment to the left (first) or to the right (last) of a filed window.

Background

You can also select one of the following three field "backgrounds":
-   Transparent field
-   Coloured background
-   Background with a figure (*.bmp or *.jpg)

Automatic format

Using an automatic format, you can make entering of some types of data easier. Format can be set using a selection line (a Combo Box) located in the right upper part of the program main window when the field edit mode is selected.

One of the following options can be selected :

  • Current time and date – current time and date are inserted into the field automatically
  • Integer or decimal numbers, sum – if the data entered represents a correctly entered number, it will be formatted according to “national setting” of an operating system automatically.
  • Amount in words – the function is only accessible in Slovak and Czech versions of the program. After entering a number, it will appear in words automatically.
  • Filling a field with a specified character – after entering any character, the entire filed will be filled in with it.
  • "Stroke" lines – after entering the character / | \ - = or X, the filed will be crossed with the corresponding character.

The text is formatted automatically when leaving the field. Numerical entry is formatted only if it is entered correctly (it contains only characters 0-9 or a decimal point, respectively).

 

Controls and information elements in the lower part of the window will also help you in editing:

Links
(F10)

By linking the fields, you can achieve that after entering the text into any of the interrelated fields, the text appears in all fields linked to this one automatically. It can be used if the same item is entered in the same form several times (e.g. name, street, town, etc.).

Filed linking procedure :
1. Position the pointer to the field you want to link with others
2. Switch the Links function on. The selected field and all the fields linked to it will be displayed with a red frame.
3. By clicking on any field, the link can be established or cancelled
4. Switch the Links function off.

Order of the fields
(F11

You can switch between the fields using the Tab (next field) and Shift+Tab (previous field) keys. The order of fields is defined when creating them. If necessary, it can be changed in the edit mode Order of the Fields" as follows :

  • Start the edit mode “Order of the Fields“. Their serial numbers appear in the fields instead of the text.
  • Using the left mouse button, click on the field with the serial number you want to change as the first. E.g. if you want to redefine the order of fields starting from the number 5, find the field number 5 and click on it.
  • By clicking on the required fields, you can change their serial numbers, whereas the field you click on first receives the serial number defined in the point 2.). This number is then increased by 1 and assigned to the next field you click on.

If you want any field be jumped over in the text edit mode after pressing the Tab (Shift+Tab) keys, click on it using the right mouse button. The strikeout number will indicate that "jump" is switched on. The "jump" can also be switched off in the same way. This can be used in linked or calculated fields into which manual entry is not required.

Delete the field
(Ctrl+Delete

Delete the actual field

Alignment
(F12

Upon activation of this function, all the coordinates will change in steps, whereas the step size can be set to 0.5 – 1 – 2 – 3 and 5 mm in the left lower part of the window. The set length of the step is recalculated with respect to the entered actual dimension of the background picture.

When alignment is activated and you click on :

  • The field – then, its position is aligned automatically (the coordinates of the left upper corner)
  • The dots in the corners and on the field sides – its height and width are aligned

Note :
The coordinates and dimensions displayed in the lower part of the main window of the program are shown with accuracy to one tenth of a millimetre. However, the required coordinates or dimensions cannot be set correctly sometimes. E.g. if we use A4 size, which represents the actual width 210 mm and the width on a screen is 760 dots, then one screen dot represents about 0.28 mm (0.276315789 mm). It can be seen from the abovementioned that if the field is placed e.g. 100 dots from the left edge, its recalculated coordinate will be 27.6 mm. If we moved it by one more dot, (to a distance 101 dots), its recalculated coordinate would be 27.9 mm, i.e. the distances 27.7 and 27.8 mm (“inaccessible values“) cannot be achieved. Referring to the fact that the field height and width are calculated as a difference of coordinates of opposing edges, the inaccessible values can vary depending on the coordinates of this field. If a high-accuracy output is required, it is recommended to select higher screen resolution and use background pictures having larger dimensions.

Information panel

Shows dimensions and coordinates of a current field in mm.

You can return to the text edit mode by clicking on the icon "Edit mode" or pressing the F9 key.