Idea for a new Designer feature

How about a checkbox as a new field property:

Field is only editable when formula is true: _______________

If the document is in edit mode, then the field is only editable when the formula is true, otherwise it is simply rendered in a manner similar to when the document is in read mode.

This prevents having to create two paragraphs with opposing hide whens, multiple fields (one editable, one computed-for-display), and in-general cleans up the form layout in Designer. In many cases it also prevents one from having to create tables simply for layout purposes. E.g. instead of doing this:

Label:

[Editable field]

[Computed for display version of field]

You could in many cases get away with:

Label: [Editable-when-formula-is-true field]

I think that this would make many a developer’s life easier, and probably wouldn’t be too difficult to implement. Comments?

Subject: Already exists as ‘Input Enabled’

It’s in the left-hand object browser tree for each editable field.

Thomas - IBM

Subject: RE: Already exists as ‘Input Enabled’

Only for “Native OS” style editable fields, and so well documented that the “Editable field formulas” page in the Designer help says “You can write up to three formulas for each editable field”, and then proceeds to list four: default, translation, validation, and input enabled. Remind anyone of a Monty Python sketch?

Subject: RE: Already exists as ‘Input Enabled’

Should read “amongst the formulas for each field are such diverse elements as: default, translation, validation, input enabled and a knife to the navel,” of course.

Perhaps someone in the documentation group needs to be subjected to the COMFY CHAIR!!

Subject: RE: Already exists as ‘Input Enabled’

It is unfortunate that IBM/Lotus didn’t take the time to enable this for all field types.

Subject: We did.

Subject: Correction: In R7 the input enable formula works for native Notes field types, too.

Subject: Thanks. Doc should be updated.

It’s a neat feature. Obviously, few have noticed it or remembered it. Myself included.

Subject: RE: Thanks. Doc should be updated.

Sigh - hadn’t seen that. Our upgrade to R7 is to be tied to that of our psuedo-parent company, and some of their users just got upgraded to R5!!!

Subject: Does it work on the web in ND7?

All of the other field @Formula properties work fine on the web (though “Input Validation” could work in a much better way than it does), but from what I can tell “Input Enabled” does absolutely nothing in ND6/6.5.

Subject: See this TLCC tip