Appendix A: Text Formatting

A keyboard entry using normal text entry is straightforward. However, once an input mask is applied, the behavior of the keyboard needs to change to accommodate the input mask's requirement. When working with masks, any literal characters in the mask will be "skipped" by any cursor movement including cursor keys, backspace, and delete.

When operating with a mask, the mask should be displayed with placeholders. The "-" character should display where you should enter a character. The arrow keys will move between the "-" characters and allow you to replace them. The text entry code operates as if it is in the overwrite mode. If the cursor is positioned on a character already entered and you type in a new (and valid) character, the new character replaces the old character. There is no shifting of characters.

When working with ranges specified by the [] mask, the keyboard allows you to enter a number between the values listed in the ranges. If a user enters a value that is larger than the max, the maximum number of right-most characters is used to create a new, acceptable value.

Example 1: If you type "125" into a field accepting 0-100, then the values displayed will be "1", "12", "25".

Example 2: If the max for the field was 20, then the values displayed will be "1", "12", "5".

When data overflows from a numerical field, the overflow value is added to the previous field on the chain, if the overflow character was specified. In the above example, if the overflow flag was set, the first example will place the "1" into the previous logical field and the second example will place "12" in the previous logical field. If the overflow field already contains a value, the new value will be inserted to the right of the current characters and the overflow field will be evaluated. Overflow continues to work until a field with no overflow value is set or there are no more fields left (i.e. reached first field).

If a character is typed and that character appears in the Next Field list, the keyboard should move the focus to the next field. For example, when entering time, a ":" is used as a next field character. If you hit "1:2", the 1 is entered in the current field (hours) and then the focus is moved to the next field and 2 is entered in that field.

When entering time in a 12-hour format, entry of AM and PM is required. Instead of adding

AM/PM to the input mask specification, the AM/PM should be handled within the NetLinx code. This allows a programmer to show/hide and provide discrete feedback for AM and PM.

Input mask output examples

The following are some common input masking examples:

Output Examples

Common Name

Input Mask

Input

 

 

 

IP Address Quad

[0255]{.}

Any value from 0 to 255

 

 

 

Hour

[112]{:}

Any value from 1 to 12

 

 

 

Minute/Second

[059]{:}

Any value from 0 to 59

 

 

 

Frames

[029]{:}

Any value from 0 to 29

 

 

 

Phone Numbers

(999) 000-0000

(555) 555-5555

 

 

 

Zip Code

00000-9999

75082-4567

 

 

 

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MVP-7500/8400 Modero Viewpoint Wireless Touch Panels

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AMX MVP-8400 manual Input mask output examples, Following are some common input masking examples, Output Examples