Alphanumeric Input
The basic input field is the alphanumeric input field. These fields are used for entering letters or numbers, depending on the requirements of each field. If the field only allows the input of numbers, the program will not allow the input of letters and vice versa.
Table of contents
- Field entry
- Quick keyboard editing
- Alphanumeric field with a selection table
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1. Field entry
To enter something into a field, we select the field with the mouse. The selected field has a yellow border and a blinking cursor.
We can start entering letters or numbers into the selected field.
2. Quick keyboard editing
We can use a mini-editor inside the field. The following keys have a specific role in the editor:
| Home |
Moves the cursor to the beginning of the field. |
| End |
Moves the cursor to the end of the field. |
| Direction key – Left |
Moves the cursor one spot to the left. |
| Direction key – Right |
Moves the cursor one spot to the right. |
| Delete |
Deletes the letter behind the cursor. |
| Backspace |
Deletes the letter in front of the cursor. |
| Enter |
Confirms entry. |
| Tab |
Skips to the next input field. |
| Shift + Home |
Highlights the text from the cursor to the start of the input field (e.g., to make it easier to delete the text from the cursor backwards). |
| Shift + End |
Highlights the text from the cursor to the end of the input field (e.g., to make it easier to delete text from the cursor onwards). |
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WARNING
The easiest way to delete the entire contents of an input field is to press the Shift + Home keys when the cursor is at the end of the field. The entry in the field is highlighted. To delete such a highlighted entry, press the Delete key.
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3. Alphanumeric field with a selection table
The alphanumeric input field can be merged with a selection table. The selection table makes it easier to enter the correct value, because we can select the data we want from a set of data.
Such a field is recognisable by the downward arrow at the end of the input field. It is characterised by the fact that we can select the value by only one field, usually a code.
As soon as we type something into the input field with a selection table or click on the arrow, a window opens, allowing us to select values.
The content of the selection window is dynamic. If we type a different value into the field, the display in the selection table will change.
A simple selection table is a great help with quick data entry. It is enough to know only the initial part of the value we are looking for (for example, the first few letters), and then we can move the field around the selection table using the cursor and other keys (arrow keys – Up and Down, End, Home, Page Up, Page Down) to the value we want. By pressing the Enter key or by moving to the next input field, the selected value is written into the input field.