Applying Control Order Rules

If you’re working with a complex page or you’re new to order lists, you might print out a page definition and work on the hard copy. The sequence number of each control is reflected in the Num column on the page report. You can easily mark where you need to move a control to make your page function properly, or you can look at the Lvl column on the Order tab of the page definition.

Use these rules to order your controls:

Radio Buttons

For radio buttons to function in a single group, they must be associated with the same record field and be listed together on the Order tab of the page definition. The only control that you can place between related radio buttons is the static text control to extend radio button labels. Put the text immediately after the radio button to which it relates.

Level-Based Controls

List level-based controls (scroll areas, grids, and scroll bars) immediately before the first control that they govern, followed by the controls that are directly governed by that control. Level-based controls directly govern all controls that are listed below them on the order list until they encounter another level-based control that is at the same or lower level (higher occurs level number).

Display Controls

Place display controls before related displays that they govern. The related display controls don't have to follow the display controls immediately, but they must be inside the same scroll area or scroll. However, if you have more than one related display control, placing each immediately following its display control makes the order page easier to read and understand.