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VFP 9 Cool Feature #1: Custom Property Editors

We've always been able to create our own properties in Visual FoxPro but now with VFP 9, there are two really cool features that greatly enhance developer's productivity.
 
1. You can now specify default values when you create a new property. I know this sounds small, but this is a HUGE benefit when building new classes.
 
2. You can now specify your own method for editing properties. This is done with the new MemberData Editor found under the Form or Class menu. With the MemberData Editor, highlight a property (including base properties such as Caption, Name) and check the option "Has Member Data". The Script box will now become enabled. Write VFP code in here that will be used whenever the user double-clicks the function. For example, if you wanted to use an INPUT BOX simply put
 
RETURN INPUTBOX("Enter your property value here")
 
Now, whenever you double-click that property in the Property sheet, up pops the InputBox running from your script.
 
This has huge implications which I'll get into in a future post.
 
But I thought right now what I want to do is write about all the great features available in the Visual FoxPro 9 beta. Download it from http://msdn.microsoft.com/vfoxpro
 
 
 

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