TableAuto Element (Data)

Context: HL Kit … Kit Reference … Data File Reference … Portal Element (Data) 

The "table_auto" Element

Auto tables are a special kind of dynamic table that can only ever contain a single item. As such, an auto table looks like a dynamic table until the user clicks on the "add" item at the bottom. Instead of displaying a choose form, a new instance of a specific item is added to the table. This is extremely useful for tables of journal entries and character portraits. Each auto table is defined via the use of the "table_auto" element. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

component	Id – Specifies the unique id of the component that all shown objects must be derived from.
usetabledef	(Optional) Id – Specifies the TableDef to reference for details of this table. Default: None.
autothing	Id – Specifies the unique id of the thing to be added to the table whenever the user clicks on the "add" item at the bottom.
showtemplate	Id – Specifies the unique id of the template to be used for displaying the picks that have been added to the table.
showsortset	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of the sort set to be used for sequencing the items that exist within the table. If empty, all objects are sorted by name. Default: Empty.
showgaphorz	(Optional) Integer – Specifies the gap along the horizontal axis to insert between items that exist within the table. Default: "0".
showgapvert	(Optional) Integer – Specifies the gap along the vertical axis to insert between items that exist within the table. Default: "0".
columns	(Optional) Integer – Specifies the number of columns of data to display within the table. Default: "1".
scrollable	(Optional) Boolean – Indicates whether the table contents can be scrolled by the user. By default, a scroller is shown whenever the number of items exceeds the visible space, but you can disable this behavior. Default: "yes".
addtemplate	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of the template to be used for the "add" item that always appears at the bottom of the table and that users will click on to add an item to the table. This allows detailed controlled when the simple "additem" script is not sufficient. If empty, the "additem" element must be specified. Default: Empty.
addpick	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of a thing that is associated with the "add" item at the bottom of the table. HL will retrieve any pick based on this thing that exists within the target container and use it. This allows you to control what fields can be accessed from the "addtemplate". If empty, the "actor" pick is used, except within a gizmo, where its "defaultthing" is used instead. Default: Empty.
addspace	(Optional) Integer – Specifies the additional vertical space to be inserted when displaying the simple "add" item at the bottom of the table by using the "additem" script. The height of the item is based on the font height of the text shown, so this attribute allows you to insert additional padding if you wish. Default: "2".
headertemplate	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of the template to be used for a header item that appears at the top of the table. This allows you to add column headers above various pieces of information in the table. If empty, the "headertitle" element dictates whether a header is displayed above the table. Default: Empty.
headerpick	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of a thing that is associated with the header item at the top of the table. HL will retrieve any pick based on this thing that exists within the target container and use it. This allows you to control what fields can be accessed from the "headertemplate". If empty, the "actor" pick is used, except within a gizmo, where its "defaultthing" is used instead. Default: Empty.
showfrozenfixed	(Optional) Boolean – Indicates whether the table must be converted to a "fixed" table whenever the table is designated as frozen. Default: "no".
allowuserorder	(Optional) Boolean – Indicates whether the items in the table can be re-ordered by the user. If enabled, the specified component must designate a suitable ordering field or a separate component with such a field must be specified via the "ordercomponent" attribute. Default: "no". NOTE! Verify that whatever sort set you use for showing the items includes the designated ordering field as its first sort key.
ordercomponent	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of an alternate component that possesses a suitable ordering field. This attribute is only applicable when the table supports user ordering. If empty, the ordering field is dictated by the component associated with the table. Default: Empty.
linkage	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of a thing that will be used as a linkage. When a new pick is added to the table, that pick has an automatic linkage setup to any existing pick derived from the specified thing. If no derived pick exists when the new pick is added, no linkage is ever created. If empty, no linkage is established. Default: Empty.
alwaysupdate	(Optional) Boolean – Indicates whether the table must be dynamically updated after any modification to the actor so that the influence of other changes are always visually reflected to the user. Default: "no". NOTE! This option can significantly slow down display updates on slower computers, so only enable this if truly necessary.

The "table_auto" element also possesses child elements that define additional behaviors of the portal. The list of these child elements is below and must appear in the order shown. Click on the link to access the details for each element.

list	An optional "list" element may appear as defined by the given link. This element defines a List Tag Expression for the portal.
secondary	An optional "secondary" element may appear as defined by the given link. This element defines a Secondary Tag Expression that is associated with every new pick added via the portal.
existence	An optional "existence" element may appear as defined by the given link. This element defines an Existence Tag Expression that is associated with every new pick added via the portal.
autotag	Zero or more "autotag" elements may appear as defined by the given link. This element specifies tags that are automatically assigned to each added thing.
headertitle	An optional "headertitle" element may appear as defined by the given link. This element defines a HeaderTitle Script for the portal.
additem	An optional "additem" element may appear as defined by the given link. This element defines a AddItem Script for the portal.

The "list" Element

The "list" element defines a List Tag Expression for the portal that limits the set of picks that are shown. Regardless of this tag expression, all picks added via this portal are always shown within it, enabling deletion of any object added through the table. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

PCDATA

TagExpr – Specifies the code comprising the List tag expression.

The "secondary" Element

The "secondary" element defines a Secondary Tag Expression that is automatically associated with every new pick added via the portal. This new tag expression is treated like an additional Container Tag Expression for the pick that must also be satisfied. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

phase	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of the evaluation phase during which the tag expression is tested. If empty, the default timing is used from the definition file. Default: Empty.
priority	Integer – Specifies the evaluation priority during which the tag expression is tested. If empty, the default timing is used from the definition file. Default: Empty.
PCDATA	TagExpr – Specifies the code comprising the Secondary tag expression.

The "existence" Element

The "existence" element defines an Existence Tag Expression that is automatically associated with every new pick added via the portal. If a pick ever fails to satisfy the tag expression during an evaluation cycle, the pick is automatically deleted. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

phase	(Optional) Id – Specifies the unique id of the evaluation phase during which the tag expression is tested. If empty, the default timing is used from the definition file. Default: Empty.
priority	Integer – Specifies the evaluation priority during which the tag expression is tested. If empty, the default timing is used from the definition file. Default: Empty.
PCDATA	TagExpr – Specifies the code comprising the Secondary tag expression.

The "headertitle" Element

The "headertitle" element defines a HeaderTitle Script for the portal that synthesizes the text to be displayed at the top of the table as a header. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

PCDATA

Script – Specifies the code comprising the HeaderTitle script.

The "additem" Element

The "additem" element defines a AddItem Script for the portal that synthesizes the text to be displayed within the "add" item at the bottom of the table, where the user will click to add a new item. The complete list of attributes for this element is below.

PCDATA

Script – Specifies the code comprising the AddItem script.

Example

The following example demonstrates what an auto table portal might look like. All default values are assumed for optional attributes.

<portal id="peImages" style="tblNormal">
  <table_auto component="UserImage"
      showtemplate="peImage" autothing="mscUserImg">
    <headertitle>
      @text = "Gallery"
      </headertitle>
    <additem>
      @text = "Add Another Image"
      </additem>
    </table_auto>
  </portal>