One of the neat features of DNM RAD is the LISTS.

A List is a simple collection of Data, made up of the Viewable Text, and the relevant Value. Each list entry has a Parent entry and can have Zero to Many children. This collection of data is ideally used when you have a set of options which are static, such as Drop Down options or Radio Button options.

Creating a List

The best way to explain how to use Lists is by providing a practical example, so we will create two separate Lists, one denoting the possible Ingredients, and the other denoting the possible Colours.

We start off by creating the Parent Entries, 'Ingredients' and 'Colours'. The Value field for Parent Lists is not important, however you must still input a value. Make sure that the List Parent selection is set as Root. For now leave the View Rights drop down on All User, we'll discuss that further on.

Once the parent entries are created, click on the List Parent drop down and select the Ingredients option.

Making sure that the List Parent Ingredients is selected, enter the Name and Value of the Ingredient you want to create. For this example, we'll add the following:

* Note that after creating a List Entry you have to re-select the 'Ingredients' Parent Entry again, before adding the next entry.

Once all the entries are ready, select again the Ingredients Parent Entry and you should see the following:

As you can see, the Ingredients Parent entry has 4 Child entries which are being displayed.

Now lets create the Child Entries for the Colours Parent entry. For this example, we'll add the following:

Once all colours have been inputted, we can than proceed to the next stage.

Making Use of Lists

We'll create a basic table which contains the Text Entries and we'll name it tb_ListTest:

• Name
• Colour
• Ingredient

Based on the above table, we'll create a 2 Forms.

Starting off from the Edit form, this form will have a Textbox bound to the Name field, a DNMRADIO field, a DNMDROPDOWN field and finally a DNMBUTTON.

Make sure that the Form's Data Source is bound to the Table tb_ListTest, and set the datasource of the Textbox to the Name field. The DNMRADIO Field which we named rd_Ingredient needs to have the following properties set:

• - Radio Button List Type set to Lists
• - Radio Button List List Type set to the 'Ingredients' parent entry
• - Datasource set to Ingredient

When ready click save, and proceed to the DNMDROPDOWN control drp_Colours. Set its properties as follows:

• - Radio Button List Type set to Lists
• - Radio Button List List Type set to the 'Colours' parent entry
• - Datasource set to Colour

Finally set the properties of btn_Save so that it Saves and Navigates back to the same form using the Change Form (Add New) navigator setting.

Once ready, access the Form, and you should see something similiar to the following:

That concludes the Edit Form part of this blog entry, now to View the entered data.

Using Lists to display previously entered data

As a short conclusion, we'll create a View form for the tb_ListTest table. This View form will display the records present in tb_ListTest and make use of the LabelList control.

Create a new form and name it frm_ListTest_View, and configure it to display multiple rows, and databind it to the tb_ListTest table.

In the Header Template, create the Table Headers for the Name, Colour and Ingredient Columns, and in the Footer Template close the Table.

In the Body Tag, enter a DNMLITERAL control for the Name, and two DNMLABELLIST controls for the Colour and Ingredient.

Switch back to the Properties and set the following:

• - Set the Data Source of the Name Literal control to the Name Column.
• - Set the Data Source of the Colour Labellist control to the Colour Column.
• - Set the List Source of the Colour Labellist control to the Colours List Entry.
• - Set the Data Source of the Ingredient Labellist control to the Ingredient Column.
• - Set the List Source of the Ingredient Labellist control to the Ingredients List Entry.

Once all the properties are set, access the page and you should have something similiar to the following:

* Note that you need to have inputted some data using the frm_ListTest form prior to accessing this form, otherwise the Table will contain no data to display.

Conclusion

And there you have it. A simple, effective and versatile tool which allows lists of data to be easily accessed, and represented in a myriad of different ways.