Tutorial 12 - Creating a List with Fixed, Nonscrolling Columns

Often, you would like to prevent one or more columns from scrolling horizontally so that they will always be in view. The Splits collection of True DBList provides a generalized mechanism for defining groups of adjacent columns, and can be used to implement any number of fixed, nonscrolling columns. In this tutorial, you will learn how to write code to create a list with two splits, and then "fix" a pair of columns in the leftmost split.

Follow steps 1 through 5 of Tutorial 1 to create a project with a True DBList control bound to a Data control.

In the Form_Load (Visual Basic) event, place the following code to create an additional split and to fix columns 0 and 1 in the leftmost split:

Example Title	Copy Code
Private Sub Form_Load() ' Before modifying the list's properties, make sure the ' list is initialized by refreshing the Data control. Data1.Refresh ' Create an additional split: Dim S As TrueDBList80.Split Set S = TDBList1.Splits.Add(0) ' Hide all columns in the leftmost split, Splits(0), ' except for columns 0 and 1 Dim C As TrueDBList80.Column Dim Cols As TrueDBList80.Columns Set Cols = TDBList1.Splits(0).Columns For Each C In Cols C.Visible = False Next C Cols(0).Visible = True Cols(1).Visible = True ' Configure Splits(0) to display exactly two columns, ' and disable resizing With TDBList1.Splits(0) .SizeMode = dblNumberOfColumns .Size = 2 .AllowSizing = False End With ' Usually, if you fix columns 0 and 1 from scrolling ' in a split, you will want to make them invisible in ' other splits: Set Cols = TDBList1.Splits(1).Columns Cols(0).Visible = False Cols(1).Visible = False End Sub

Example Title

Copy Code

Private Sub Form_Load()

    ' Before modifying the list's properties, make sure the

    ' list is initialized by refreshing the Data control.

    Data1.Refresh

  

    ' Create an additional split:

    Dim S As TrueDBList80.Split

    Set S = TDBList1.Splits.Add(0)

 

    ' Hide all columns in the leftmost split, Splits(0),

    ' except for columns 0 and 1

    Dim C As TrueDBList80.Column

    Dim Cols As TrueDBList80.Columns

    Set Cols = TDBList1.Splits(0).Columns

    For Each C In Cols

         C.Visible = False

    Next C

    Cols(0).Visible = True

    Cols(1).Visible = True

 

    ' Configure Splits(0) to display exactly two columns,

    ' and disable resizing

    With TDBList1.Splits(0)

         .SizeMode = dblNumberOfColumns

         .Size = 2

         .AllowSizing = False

   End With

 

    ' Usually, if you fix columns 0 and 1 from scrolling

    ' in a split, you will want to make them invisible in

    ' other splits:

    Set Cols = TDBList1.Splits(1).Columns

    Cols(0).Visible = False

    Cols(1).Visible = False

 

End Sub

Run the program and observe the following:

The True DBList control displays data from the Data control as in Tutorial 1.
The two columns (First and Last) in the leftmost split are fixed and cannot be scrolled. In fact, there is no horizontal scroll bar present under the left split. A horizontal scroll bar appears under the rightmost split, allowing users to scroll the columns in this split.

To end the program, press the End button on the Visual Basic toolbar. You have successfully completed Tutorial 12.

You can use splits to create fixed, nonscrolling columns anywhere within the list---even in the middle! You can also use splits to present different views of your data. For example, you can create splits which scroll independently (in the vertical direction) so that users may compare records at the beginning of the database with those at the end. For more information, see How to Use Splits.