FIELD_TOUCHED( )

The FIELD_TOUCHED( ) operator tests whether the user has made any change in a specified field (or list of fields) of the current 4GL form. (This operator can only appear within CONSTRUCT, INPUT, or INPUT ARRAY statements.)

field is a field identifier (from the ATTRIBUTES section of the form specification file).

screen array is the 4GL identifier that you declared for a screen array in the INSTRUCTIONS section of the form specification file.

screen record is the 4GL identifier that you declared for a screen record.

table reference is a table name, alias, or synonym (or FORMONLY keyword).

The FIELD_TOUCHED( ) operator returns a Boolean value TRUE (meaning that the user made a change to the field) when a DISPLAY statement displays data in any of the specified fields, or the user presses any of the following keys:

A printable character (including the Spacebar)

CONTROL-X (character delete)

CONTROL-D (clear to end of field)

After any of these keystrokes, the FIELD_TOUCHED( ) operator returns TRUE, regardless of whether the keystroke has changed the value in the field.

Otherwise, the FIELD_TOUCHED( ) operator returns FALSE if none of the specified fields are edited. Moving through a field (by pressing Enter, Tab, or the Arrow keys, or by using the mouse without entering anything) does not mark a field as "touched."

References

Boolean Operators

FGL_KEYVAL( )

FGL_LASTKEY( )

GET_FLDBUF( )

INFIELD( )