Design - Point - Properties (continued)   

Boolean Point

The Boolean Point is a useful facility for quick recording, providing a virtually unlimited choice of results recording, either text or numeric, see design dialogue box below. While the default choices in the drop down lists are Yes, Yes/No, True/False, Safe/Unsafe, 1/0/99 and NA/ N/A, amend for any choice.  The 1, 0, 99 style is useful for collection of observations which may then be subject to statistical analysis. The standard selections can be amended to sentences and paragraphs, which can be selected and loaded into reports.

Selection Point

The Selection Point is particularly useful where a number of choices are presented and multiple selections may be necessary.  The design dialogue box below shows potential for many Items to be presented with either Multiple or Single selection. The Items can be added, edited, deleted and moved up and down. Code-based provides the opportunity to collect numerical data or codes 'behind the scenes', eg 1;Normal, 2;Excited and so on, use the number/code first then a semi-colon (;) to separate from the text. The code-based values can be used as inputs for Math points, see below. 

The Import tool facilitates the importing of content for the Selection Point, content must be sourced from a .txt text file to import. To set a value as default, select in on-page view and right click mouse to 'Save Default Value'.

Right-click of a Selection point in the Design window, presents the Convert to Drop Point option to create an equivalent Drop List point (see below), with the same characteristics. Similarly, a Drop List point can be converted to a Selection Point.

Edit Point

The Edit Point is used for entering text and/or numbers in the field. Standard Windows Cut / Copy / Paste commands can be used. The design dialog box below shows the Style options for text and numeric input and controls for Numeric Behaviour and Default Value for both text and numeric data. Up and down arrows can be used for quick entry of numbers in the range selected. A range must be selected to use the up and down arrows. The size of the entry field is controlled by Physical Size, from many compact Inline box options to 16 lines for entry of large amounts of text.  The Limit control enables a limit to the number of characters entered in the Edit point, this can be useful when outputting to databases and forms.

To load data from Bar Code Scanners, tap the Edit point box for cursor activation before loading scan/s. The cursor will automatically be placed in any Edit point at the top of a page.

To generate Code-based output, place a semicolon (;) between the code and the text visible in the Drop List point. For example "150;Consulting Rate", would record 150 and make the number available for math operations.

The Multiple selection drop list enables multiple selections (including Code-based), choices are marked with a tick. Selections are recorded in data management separated by a semi-colon. Multiple selection Drop Lists cannot be edited on the Pocket PC.

The Import tool facilitates the importing of content for the Drop List , content must be sourced from a .txt text file to import. A list of hundreds of names can be imported and scrolled for selection of choice on the Pocket PC. To set a value as default, select in on-page view and right click mouse to 'Save Default Value'.

Where long statements are included in Drop Lists, it may assist to reproduce these in point Guidance to assist the user, or to display the selection using a Layout point (see below). 

(For more advanced drop list functions, see UltraDrop custom point on page 4.)

There are three options for control of the Date/Time point, a simple box enabling  tap to set the current date and time, the 'Native' Windows Mobile control and a Touch-friendly control displaying a large calendar which is useful for devices without a stylus.

The Date/Time point can be used in combination with the Math point (see below) to record time elapsed for time-based charges and other purposes. If a Date/Time point is included in a Math point's expression, the time and/or date will first be converted into a number. Where a date is included, this number will be the number of minutes since January 1st, 1979. If there is only a time, the number will be the number of minutes since midnight. When the Date/Time point includes seconds, they appear as a decimal portion of a minute in math operations (30 seconds is 0.5 minutes). Note, that when using date Maths and exporting to databases, it is best to use the universal YYYY-MM-DD date format. Dates presented in other formats may not be interpreted correctly. If other formats are used, the Regional setting on both the Pocket and desktop PCs must be aligned with the date format chosen.

The Outlook Point enables the importing of contact information from Microsoft Outlook via Pocket Outlook on the Pocket PC. The design dialogue box shown below presents options for selection of contact information which can be imported from Pocket Outlook to a Pocket PC Creations project in the field. This facility assists with automatic entry of contact information in the field, avoiding time consuming manual entry. Depending on the fields chosen, appropriate captions and ID names are automatically generated for each field point, the captions can be manually changed to suit common terminology. The 'Body' field presents Notes from Outlook.  The presentation output into Edit points can be adjusted for compact inline designs. Checking the Options box allows new contact information to be added simultaneously to Pocket Outlook and a Pocket PC Creations project in the field.

Outlook contacts are accessible during a Local Session on a Tablet, desktop or notebook PC. Microsoft Outlook on a desktop PC can accept/import contact information from a wide range of programs (eg Access, ACT), this information then synchronises with Pocket Outlook on the Pocket PC via ActiveSync.

Outlook Contacts Categories can be used on the Pocket PC, to conveniently filter large lists of Contacts. Tap the Category header to filter Contacts, and then re-open the Outlook point drop list to view the Contacts in the Category.

Each math point has a fixed expression associated with it that it will evaluate to produce a result. These expressions can include 30 mathematical Operators and Functions, some of which are shown in the dialogue box image below. 

Mathematical operators, in order of precedence:

• ^ power

• * multiply

• / divide

• % modulus

• + add

• - subtract

  Conditional operators, in order of precedence:

• = equals

• != not equals

• > greater than

• < less than

• >= greater than or equal to

• <= less than or equal to

  Logical operators, in order of precedence:

• & and

• | or

• ?x:y If/Else

  Functions take the form fn(x), where fn is the function name and x is an expression. Functions are:

• abs  absolute

• inv  inverse

• int  integer

• sqrt  square root

• log10  log

• ln  natural log

• exp  exponential

• sin  sine

• cosin  cosine

• tan  tangent

• arcsin  asin

• acos  arccosine

• arctan  atan

• deg2rad  convert

• rad2deg  convert

• random int  irnd

• random float  frnd

Values from other points on the page (or indeed any other page in the project) can be used in the expression by including the ID name of the point. Note that referenced points must contain numeric data, however this can be in code-based format.  Points that are blank (ie points that have not been filled in) will be treated as numeric zeros. 

For example, an expression to add the values entered into two other points named A and B would simply be "A+B". While this is a simple case, more complex expressions can easily be constructed, involving fixed constants and brackets. For example, to take the average of three points named Alpha, Beta and Gamma: "(Alpha+Beta+Gamma)/3".  The dialogue box below shows another example, and the drop down selection facility to import points into a math equation. Practice the Math point to experiment with it's power and versatility, confidence will soon develop to apply it to many valuable projects. The Sales Force included in the Examples folder of Pocket PC Creations software (C:\Program Files\Pocket PC Creations\Examples\SalesForce.ppc) makes use of the Math point on the Product page.

A full range of Decimal and Hexidecimal Accuracy control is available. There is support for non-English locales, as determined by hardware system settings (Settings > System > Regional Settings on Pocket PC and Control Panel > Regional Settings on desktop PC). Thus if Regional Settings specify "," as the decimal character and "." as the digit grouping character (which is opposite to the English system), then these settings will be reflected in Pocket PC Creations.

On-screen, math points appear identical to edit points, but are read-only. The value will be computed automatically. The result calculated and displayed in a math point will be recorded in the results like any other point, and is available for examination or use on the desktop PC.

The Sketch Point enables drawing a sketch on the Pocket PC with a stylus. Sketches can be drawn in colour using either an 8 or 4 colour palette, or drawn in black.  Sketches can also be drawn over JPG and Bitmap images imported into the Sketch field, either in project design or on the Pocket PC in the field via Camera and File points, providing a wide range of graphical recording options. The design dialogue box shown below shows options for sketch management.

Sketch Area Size provides full screen width with options of from a single line to 7 lines in length. A single line is suitable for a signature, 7 lines provides maximum area for a drawing. 

Colour Palette offers 8 and 4 colour options, and no palette for black.  A colour is selected by tapping the colour before drawing with the stylus. 

Use of the Sketch point on 'Touch Flo' and similar scrolling systems may require use of either 'Transcriber' or 'Letter Recognizer' Input methods (via 'Touch Input Settings' at bottom of screen). There may also be a lag when commencing sketch or signature on 'Touch Flo' devices.

Options for the Link point enables a hidden Link point under the control of a Logic point (see below) which can 'jump' automatically to another page if a Logic point condition is met.  Similarly, a hidden Link point on the target page can be used to return to the original position in the project. This 'jump' function can be useful for market research surveys and many other projects. While the set up of the associated Logic point (see below) will generally be obvious, the Test for a jump for any entry to a point is "not equal to"...."blank...ie nothing in entry box". 

In addition to a standard text link, and image button can be a inserted. If an image button link is used, the point caption can be removed as the standard text link is not necessary.

Dynamic navigation can be achieved via the Link point using <%PointIDName%> as the URL, and to action functions on device, eg to phone a customer on the way to a job using tel:<%BusinessTelephoneNumber%> , where 'BusinessTelephoneNumber' is the ID name of a point containing the number.

A Contents Page can be automatically generated providing links to all pages in a project, this function is found under Edit on the design window toolbar.

The Text Layout Point is used to add text to any position on a menu page, including for image captions. Text can be added in one of the four font types supported by Pocket PC - Tahoma, Courier New, Frutiger Linotype and Bookdings - and at selected sizes, styles and colours. Two colour ranges, and customized colour are available. Large text sizes can be used for projection of presentations, see below and Presentations.

The text component of a Layout point has the advanced potential to include references to other points in the project, in much the same way that a Math or Logic point is able to reference other values. This can be useful where the value filled into a point in one part of a project needs to be displayed elsewhere, or formatted into a text message. To include a reference to another point's value in a 'Parsing' Layout point, simply enclose the other point's ID Name with <% %>, for example, to reference the point 'Age', a Layout point could contain: 'John is   <% Age %> years old'. If the value '33' was entered in the Age point, then the Layout point would read 'John is 33 years old'. Any number of points can be referenced from a Layout point, see Table example below, and set up in Text box.

A Logic point can control the visibility of multiple points. The Logic point can also output values, both numeric and text data, based on the same conditional logic processes that display points. The Logic point will test whether a condition is either true or false, or indeterminate, and output values assigned to these outcomes. Supports AND and OR operations, allowing two comparisons to be made at once. Usually two inputs should be enough, but if more complicated expressions (eg A or B and C) are required, several Logic points can be connected together. While the output values drop lists provide for True, False, Yes and No outputs, any strings of numeric or text values can be output, including sentences.  Each Logic point has a given source and a condition to test, eg testing if a Yes/No point titled 'Have you ever smoked?' was equal to 'Yes' then appropriate questions would appear and if 'Smoke Per Day' was greater or equal to 10 cigarettes, the Logic point would record 'Smoking history', as shown below. Conversely, with 'Is this an anonymous interview?', if the answer was 'Yes', then the Edit points for interviewee name and other identifying details disappear. Please download the Logic Test project shown below to examine the logical structure.

Nine different logic Tests can be applied. The dialogue box above shows some default Test responses, though any text or numbers can be used. Logic points can also test the dynamic value of two points by applying the test to the other point by enclosing the point IDName in <% %>, this can be useful when comparing initially unknown values, for example two bar code scans. Following selection of input points and Tests, the 'Show' points are selected with a double click, the pink tick and red text identifies they are Logic point targets. Logic points are not visible on the page. Given the Logic point is not visible, it can also be operating in the background without displaying points but transforming and outputting data. To output values/data, the Logic point must be given an ID Name and it's Style must be checked for Include in Data.

For a point to be a Logic point target for display it must have 'Visible on Page' checked for it's Style. The Logic point then suppresses this visibility, unless it is unlocked by meeting data tests! All very logical, and delivering a lot of power on the Pocket PC. For example, the Logic point can be used to test a security code to show the Contents page links for a project (with pages unchecked for access via Previous and Next buttons), and to display specific points for confidential data. If the Logic point is used for security of a project, the Edit points used for input of code should be unchecked for 'Include in Data Store' so the links and points 'disappear' at the end of the session, as intended.

In design mode a File Type filter can be selected, such as 'All Files', 'Image Files', 'Text Files', or a custom file type filter. File point can be set to automatically import or attach the newest file of a designated type (eg xml) in a designated folder. For some projects storing of a file in the project at Design stage may be required; this can be enabled by importing the file to the point and then using Save Default Value by right mouse click on the File point in the Point Panel. The file will be retained as default.

The File point is used by tapping on the point or one of the file control icons on the right of the point, Launch/view, Save or Open, and, if automatic is not selected, then selecting an appropriate filename when opening or saving. The Launch/view button appears and can be tapped when there is a file stored in the point, it will extract and open the attached file automatically, using its default handler. For example, an attached image file would launch in a default image viewer; similarly, audio or video files would launch in the appropriate application such as Windows Media Player.

The File point is a flexible vehicle to move files to and from Pocket PCs and into databases. Files can be dynamically loaded to the File point via Incoming XML, using the syntax: <pointName file="filenamehere.jpg" delete="true"/> (for example with a JPG file).