Updated Tutorial Available
Formatter Point
Learn how the Formatter point can be used and see it in action with the sample projects.
What is the Formatter point?
The Formatter point can be used to combine values from other points and store them with custom formatting. This point is useful for formatting captured data in a way that is more appropriate for reports or for display in Session List Columns. The value of the Formatter point can be used by other points, such as the Math point or Logic point. This point is always hidden and does not display on the mobile application when used on its own. However, the value can be displayed using another point such as a Layout point .
Key Features
- Can combine values from other points into a single value.
- Can be used to populate the caption of another point, dynamically.
- Can be used to improve the readability and appearance of information for presenting data in reports.
Configuration and Settings
The Formatter point can be configured in the Mobile Data Anywhere Designer to customise the behaviour of the point. Below is an example of the properties window for a Formatter point, opened in the Mobile Data Anywhere Designer.
Insert Point Value
These options can be used to insert a point's value into the format string. Start by clicking in the format string at the location where the point should be inserted. Then select the point from the drop down list and select whether the value should be added as a string (text) or a number. If the value of the point is numeric ( Math point , Numpad point ) then you can specify additional options if the value is inserted as a number. The differences between inserting as a string/number are explained below:
Inserting as a String
When inserted as a string, the
padding
option can be set which sets a minimum number of characters for the inserted value. When the value
is less than the specified number, the value will be padded with spaces to fill the remaining characters
up to the set amount. For example if the inserted value is
test
with the settings set to
width: 8
the formatted value would be
test
.
Inserting as a Number
When inserted as a string, the
padding
and
precision
can be set. The padding determines the leading number of zeroes to pad to and the precision determines
the trailing number of zeroes to pad to. For example if the inserted value is
1.2
with the settings set to
width: 8, precision: 3
the formatted value would be
00000001.200
.
Sample Projects
The
Basic Points Sample
project contains examples of how to use many of the various points that are available. This project also contains a
page that demonstrates some of the ways that this point can be used in your projects.
Sample Projects
Sample 1: Combining and formatting strings
In the provided sample project, basic_point_samples.ppc there is a page for the Formatter Point , which contains two sections. The first section demonstrates how a Formatter point can be used to combine the string values of multiple Edit points and display them using a Layout point . Open this project in the Mobile Data Anywhere Designer for a closer look at how each point has been customised on each point's properties window.
Sample 2: Combining and formatting numbers
The second section of the Formatter Point page demonstrates how a Formatter point can be used to combine the numeric values of multiple Numpad points and display them using a Layout point . Open this project in the Mobile Data Anywhere Designer for a closer look at how each point has been customised on each point's properties window.
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