ProvideX V8.20 > Language Reference > A. Appendix
828
Apostrophe Operator
Formats
1. Assign Property: object'property[$]=var[$]
2. Retrieve Property: var[$]=object'property[$]
3. Call a Method: var[$]=object'method[$](args)
4. List of Available Properties or Methods: var$=object'*
Where
'
Apostrophe Operator (sometimes called a tick)
*
Asterisk to produce a comma-separated list of properties/methods
available for a particular object; e.g., to list DROP_BOX properties
(assuming dbox is a unique ctl_id):
PRINT dbox'*
Auto,BackColour,Col,Cols,CurrentItem,CtlName,Enabled
,Eom,Focus,Font,Height,hWnd,Item,ItemCount,ItemText,
Key,Left,Line,Lines,Msg,OnFocusCtl,Parent,Sep,SepLoa
d,Tbl,TextColour,Tip,Top,Value,Visible,Width,
args
Optional argument(s).
method[$]
Name of a valid method/function in the given control/object.
Method names are not case-sensitive. To query the list of available
methods, use the syntax for asterisk '* described above
object
Numeric variable containing the control value (handle) for the object.
property[$]
Name of a valid property in the given control/object. Property
names are not case-sensitive. To query the list of available properties,
use the syntax for asterisk '* described above.
var[$]
String or numeric variable.
Note: In the above syntax, ensure that numeric methods/properties correspond to
numeric variables and that string methods/properties correspond to string variables; i.e.,
object'property$=var$ or var=object'method( ) on both sides of the equation.
Description
An apostrophe operator (tick) allows dynamic access to the properties and methods
available for a given COM, OOP, or graphical object. While the syntax is generally
the same for all object-oriented coding in ProvideX, the apostrophe operator can be
used to read and alter properties, or execute methods, in a variety of different control
and object types.
For detailed information on the use of the apostrophe operator for specific application
development purposes, refer to the following sources:
· ProvideX Event Handling documentation, Automation in ProvideX.
· ProvideX NOMADS Reference and related Direxions presentations.