aps/TextBox

Text input field.

HTML ``TextBox`` with the ability to validate and to define an input mask. The mask definition format is similar to JQuery Masked Input Plugin, version 1.3.1. For more details see, for example, digitalbush.com.

Compatibility

All user panels - CP and UX1

Overview

The aps/TextBox allows a user to enter text in the input field. In addition, the widger allows to:

• Specify an input mask
• Validate if the input field is not empty
• Validate if the entered text matches a pattern
• Display a tooltip that helps to enter a valid text

Find the nested rules for this widget in the recommended Widget Hierarchy.

Input mask

With the aps/TextBox widget, you can specify an input mask that defines a format of the input field. The mask functionality is inherited from JQuery Masked Input Plugin, version 1.3.1. For more details see, for example, http://digitalbush.com/projects/masked-input-plugin/.

A mask is specified in the mask property and by default it is not defined. The property value is a string containing the following elements:

• literals are any characters formatting the input field. They cannot be changed by a user.
• definitions are single character symbols, each presenting a range (dictionary) of allowed characters. By default, the following three definitions are predefined:
  • a - requires an alphabet character [a-zA-Z]
  • 9 - requires a numeric character [0-9]
  • * - requires an alphanumeric character [0-9a-zA-Z]

For example, if you want a user to enter a phone number, you can use the following mask containing literals and numeric definitions:

mask: "(999) 999-9999 Ext 9999"

With a proper label, it will look as follows in UI:

Definitions

The definitions property specifies a dictionary for groups of symbols, which are valid for input into positions of the mask. It is an associative array, in which the keys are single-symbol designators in a mask, and values are regular expressions. If you try to input in the current position a character that does not match the specified regular expression the character will be ignored.

By default, the dictionary specified in the widget is:

definitions: {
   '9': "[0-9]",
   'a': "[A-Za-z]",
   '*': "[A-Za-z0-9]"
}

You can completely override the definitions. In the following example, the dictionary is extended with hexadecimal ‘h’, binary ‘b’, and sign ‘-‘ definitions:

definitions: {
   '9': "[0-9]",
   'a': "[A-Za-z]",
   'h': "[0-9a-hA-H]",
   'b': "[01]",
   '*': "[A-Za-z0-9]",
   '-': "[-+]"
}

Placeholders

The placeholders property defines a dictionary of symbols that will hint a user which symbols to enter at each position. It is an associative array, in which the keys are single-symbol designators from a dictionary of symbol groups, and the values are single-symbol designators, which will be displayed in the input field. The ‘*’ key is an exception. Its value will be substituted for all types of input symbols for which a value to be displayed is not specified. Let’s consider an input mask for date entry as an example:

{
   mask: "dd.MM.yyyy hh:mm:ss",
   definitions:  {
      "d": "[0-9]",
      "M": "[0-9]",
      "y": "[0-9]",
      "h": "[0-9]",
      "m": "[0-9]",
      "s": "[0-9]"
   },
   placeholders: {
      "d": "d",
      "M": "M",
      "y": "y",
      "h": "h",
      "m": "m",
      "s": "s"
   }
}

If a label is added, this will display the following UI element:

Groups

There may be situations when a value being entered consists of several groups, which should not exchange symbols. In such a case the groups property must be set to true. Then all mask literals in the definitions property will work as group separators.

For better understanding, let us assume that there is a group of symbols completely filled in by a user, and the next group is empty. If the cursor is placed inside the first group and the user starts to enter data, the symbols will be simply replaced by new ones. If grouping were disabled, then the symbols entered earlier would move into the next group.

Let us consider an input mask for ip-address entry as an example:

{
    mask:   "999.999.999.999",
    groups: true
}

Suppose, a user has entered “128.__0.__0.__1” and then understood that he made a mistake. He places the cursor before symbol “8” and enters symbol “7”. If grouping were disabled, he would get “127.8_0.__0.__1”. But since grouping is enabled, “7” simply replaces “8” and the user gets what he wants: “127.__0.__0.__1”.

Processing Values

You can get the data entered by a user through the get method using “value” as the argument. In this case all placeholders will be automatically removed from the value shown in the input field.

You can programmatically specify data through the set method with “value” as the first argument.

Mask Requirements

You can make the whole mask required. For this purpose, set the requireAll property to true. The requireAllMessage property contains the message printed out in case of an error.

Examples

The first two examples below demonstrate all widget declaration methods. The others demonstrate input mask usage.

Using Widget Loader

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/load", "aps/ready!"],
function(load){
    "use strict";

    load(["aps/PageContainer", [
        ["aps/Panel", [
            ["aps/FieldSet", [
                ["aps/TextBox", {
                    required: true,
                    placeHolder: "Type an Integer value",
                    pattern: "-?[0-9]*",
                    invalidMessage: "Sorry, only an Integer accepted",
                    missingMessage: "Sorry, the field is empty"
    }]]]]]]]);
});

Using Widget Constructors

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/TextBox", "aps/FieldSet", "aps/Panel", "aps/PageContainer", "aps/ready!"],
function(TextBox, FieldSet, Panel, PageContainer){
    "use strict";
    var page = new PageContainer({}, "example");
    var panel = new Panel();
    var fieldSet = new FieldSet();

    fieldSet.addChild(new TextBox({
       pattern:          ".*123.*",
       label:            "Description",
       invalidMessage:   "You should have the '123' pattern in this text field to pass validation"
    }));
    panel.addChild(fieldSet);
    page.addChild(panel);
    page.startup();
});

Simple Use of Input Mask

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/load", "aps/ready!"],
function(load) {
    "use strict";

    load(["aps/PageContainer", [
        ["aps/Panel", [
            ["aps/FieldSet", [
                ["aps/TextBox", {
                    label: "Phone number",
                    mask: "+9(999)-999-99-99" }]
            ]]
    ]]]]);
});

Mask Definitions

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/load", "aps/ready!"],
function(load){
    "use strict";

    load(["aps/PageContainer", [
        ["aps/Panel", [
            ["aps/FieldSet", [
                ["aps/TextBox", {
                    label: "~.9.99 ~.9.99 999",
                    mask: "~.9.99   ~.9.99 999",
                    definitions: {
                    "~": "[+-]",
                    "9": "[0-9]"
    }}]]]]]]]);
});

Mask with Placeholders

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/load", "aps/ready!"],
function(load){
    "use strict";

    load(["aps/PageContainer", [
        ["aps/Panel", [
            ["aps/FieldSet", [
                ["aps/TextBox", {
                    mask:         "dd.MM.yyyy hh:mm:ss",
                    definitions:  {
                        "d": "[0-9]",
                        "M": "[0-9]",
                        "y": "[0-9]",
                        "h": "[0-9]",
                        "m": "[0-9]",
                        "s": "[0-9]"
                    },
                    placeholders: {
                        "d": "d",
                        "M": "M",
                        "y": "y",
                        "h": "h",
                        "m": "m",
                        "s": "s"
                    }
    }]]]]]]]);
});

Processing Values

RUN DEMO

require(["aps/load", "dijit/registry", "aps/ready!"],
function(load, registry) {

    load(["aps/PageContainer", [
        ["aps/Panel", [
            ["aps/FieldSet", [
                ["aps/TextBox", {
                    id: "textBox",
                    placeHolder: "127.000.000.001",
                    mask: "111.222.333.444",
                    definitions: {
                        '1': "[0-9]",
                        '2': "[0-9]",
                        '3': "[0-9]",
                        '4': "[0-9]"
                    },
                    placeholders: {
                        '1': "a",
                        '2': "b",
                        '3': "c",
                        '4': "d"
                    },
                    groups: true
                }],
                ["aps/Output", {
                    id: "out",
                    content: "You've entered: ${value}"
                }]
            ]]
        ]]
    ]]);

    // Textbox to input new value
    var textBox = registry.byId("textBox");
    // Output to display the value
    var out = registry.byId("out");

    // Handler definition
    function printValue() {
        var newValue = textBox.get("value");
        out.set("value", newValue);
    }
    // Watch for changes and update the display when the value changes
    textBox.watch("value", printValue);
});

<div id="inputNode"></div>
<div id="target"></div>

Public Properties

PROPERTY	TYPE	DEFAULT	DESCRIPTION
autoSize	boolean	true	Only for PCP / CCP v1.
constraints	object	{}	Sets the lower and upper limits on the length of the input string: “constraints”: { “minimumLength”: <number>, “maximumLength”: <number>} Default value: {}</number></number>.
definitions	object	{'9': “[0-9]”, 'a': “[A-Za-z]”, '*': “[A-Za-z0-9]”}	Mask definition (dictionary) that specifies allowed ranges of symbols.
description	string	“”	Textual description to be displayed as a small greyed text under the control.
disabled	boolean	false	Specifies if the widget will respond to user input.
gridSize	string	md-4 xs-12	This specifies the widget width that is relevant only for widgets inside Container, FieldSet, or Tiles.
groups	boolean	<strong>false</strong>	If true, the input mask is divided into _groups_.
hint	string	“”	Help information in a widget.
invalidMessage	string	The value entered is not valid.	Tooltip text that appears when the content of the text box is invalid.
isBusy	boolean	false	If the widget is busy then this property is true.
label	string	“”	Text that is shown as a label if the widget is placed inside a aps/FieldSet.
legend	string	“”	Side text inside the input filed.
mask	string	“”	Input mask.
missingMessage	string	This value is required.	Tooltip text that appears when the content of the text box is empty and the field is required.
optionalText	string	(Optional)	Text for optional widgets of the Input category.
pattern	string	.*	This defines the regular expression used to validate the input.
placeHolder	string	“”	Grayed out text displayed in the input field until the user starts entering new data.
placeholders	object	{ “*”: “_” }	The dictionary of displayed symbols for the input mask.
promptMessage	string	“”	If defined, displays the string when the text box is empty and on focus.
requireAll	boolean	false	Indicates if all mask elements must be entered.
requireAllMessage	string	All symbols required.	Text of message which will be shown if requireAll set to true.
required	boolean	false	User is required to enter data in the input field.
size	number	10 - PCP / CCP v1, undefined - CCP v2	Affects the selection of a CSS class that defines the width of the input field of the widget.
tooLongMessage	string	The value you specified is too long. It must not exceed <strong>maximumLength</strong> characters.	The message displayed when the input data is longer than the specified length.
tooShortMessage	string	The value you specified is too short. It should be at least <strong>minimumLength</strong> characters.	The message displayed when the input data is shorter than the specified minimum length.
type	string	text	Type of input data.
visible	boolean	true	If this property value is set to true, then the widget is visible.

autoSize boolean

Only for PCP / CCP v1. If this property value is set to “true”, then a CSS class is assigned to the widget based on the value of the “size” property: size <= 7 - f-small-size (40px) 7 < size <= 33 - f-middle-size (215px) 33 < size - f-big-size (240px) The default value of this property is true. If you want to use your own CSS class for defining the widget’s size, you should set this property value to “false” and specify your class name in the widget’s “class” property. Default value: true

constraints object

Sets the lower and upper limits on the length of the input string: “constraints”: { “minimumLength”: <number>, “maximumLength”: <number>} Default value: {}.</number></number>

definitions object

Mask definition (dictionary) that specifies allowed ranges of symbols. Default value: {‘9’: “[0-9]”, ‘a’: “[A-Za-z]”, ‘*’: “[A-Za-z0-9]”}.

description string

Textual description to be displayed as a small greyed text under the control. Default value: “”.

disabled boolean

Specifies if the widget will respond to user input.

Default value: false.

gridSize string

This specifies the widget width that is relevant only for widgets inside Container, FieldSet, or Tiles. In other cases it will be ignored.

gridSize string contains few options with number values (from 1 to 12) separated by spaces, which specify the grid size of the widget in different layouts:

- md - desktop

- xs - phone

For example, gridSize: “md-4 xs-2”.

All values below 1, e.g. “md-0”, will be replaced with the empty string (“”), values above 12, e.g. “md-14”, will be reduced to 12 (“md-12”).

Default value: “md-4 xs-12”.

groups boolean

If true, the input mask is divided into _groups_. Default value: false.

hint string

Help information in a widget. It is shown under the content of the widget. Deprecated in CCP v2. Default value: “”.

invalidMessage string

Tooltip text that appears when the content of the text box is invalid. Default value: “The value entered is not valid.”

isBusy boolean

If the widget is busy then this property is true.

Default value: false.

label string

Text that is shown as a label if the widget is placed inside a aps/FieldSet.

Default value: “”.

legend string

Side text inside the input filed. Only for CCP v2. Default value: “”.

mask string

Input mask. For example, a mask to type a phone number: “+9(999)-999-99-99”. Default value: “”.

missingMessage string

Tooltip text that appears when the content of the text box is empty and the field is required. Default value: “This value is required.”

optionalText string

Text for optional widgets of the Input category. Default value: “(Optional)”.

pattern string

This defines the regular expression used to validate the input. Do not add leading ^ or $ characters since the widget adds these. A function may be used to generate a valid pattern when dependent on constraints or other runtime factors. set(‘pattern’, String|Function). Default value: “.*”.

placeHolder string

Grayed out text displayed in the input field until the user starts entering new data. Often used to show a sample input. Once the user clicks on the input field to start typing a value, the ``placeHolder`` will be replaced by the text defined by the ``mask`` along with ``placeholders``. Default value: “”.

placeholders object

The dictionary of displayed symbols for the input mask. It defines a grayed out text displayed in the input field while the user is entering new data. Default value: { “*”: “_” }.

promptMessage string

If defined, displays the string when the text box is empty and on focus. Also displays if the textbox value is Incomplete (not yet valid but will be with additional input). Think of this like a tooltip that tells the user what to do, unlike an error message that tells the user what they’ve done wrong. Default value: “”.

requireAll boolean

Indicates if all mask elements must be entered. Only for CCP v2 and ppanel. Default value: false.

requireAllMessage string

Text of message which will be shown if requireAll set to true. Default value: “All symbols required.”

required boolean

User is required to enter data in the input field. Default value: false.

size number

Affects the selection of a CSS class that defines the width of the input field of the widget. See the specification for more details.

size <= 7        f-small-size (40px)
7 < size <= 33   f-middle-size (215px)
size > 33        f-big-size (240px)

Default value: 10 - PCP / CCP v1, undefined - CCP v2.

tooLongMessage string

The message displayed when the input data is longer than the specified length. Default value: “The value you specified is too long. It must not exceed maximumLength characters.”

tooShortMessage string

The message displayed when the input data is shorter than the specified minimum length. Default value: “The value you specified is too short. It should be at least minimumLength characters.”

type string

Type of input data. Default value: “text”.

visible boolean

If this property value is set to true, then the widget is visible.

Default value: true.

Public Methods

METHOD	RETURN	DESCRIPTION
cancel ()	object	Sets the isBusy property to false
destroy ()	undefined	Destroy this widget
extraValidator ()	boolean	Here you can do additional verifications
focus ()	aps/_input function	Focusing on the focusNode of the current object
get ()	any	Get a property of the Stateful instance
getCustomErrorMessage ()	string	Here you can return a custom error message
getParents ()	array	Discover and return all parents of the widget
placeAt ()	dijit/_widgetbase function	Place this widget somewhere in the DOM based on standard dojo/dom-construct::place() conventions
set ()	object function	Set a property of the Stateful instance
startup ()	undefined	Gets started after the DOM fragment is added to the document
validate (isFocused)	boolean	Called by oninit, onblur, and onkeypress
validator (val, con)	boolean	Overridable function used to validate the text input against the regular expression

cancel

Sets the isBusy property to false.

Return: object

destroy

Destroy this widget. Will also destroy any resources (including widgets) registered via this.own(). This method will also destroy internal widgets such as those created from a template.

Return: undefined

extraValidator

Here you can do additional verifications.

Return: boolean

focus

Focusing on the focusNode of the current object.

Return: aps/_input function

get

Get a property of the Stateful instance. Get a named property of the Stateful object. The property may potentially be retrieved via a getter method in subclasses.

In the base class, this just retrieves the object’s property.

Return: any

getCustomErrorMessage

Here you can return a custom error message. The method must return a value, only if additional verifications fail. To change standard error messages, use respective properties.

Return: string

getParents

Discover and return all parents of the widget.

Return: array

placeAt

Place this widget somewhere in the DOM based on standard dojo/dom-construct::place() conventions. A convenience function providing a simple shorthand mechanism to put an existing (or newly created) widget somewhere in the DOM, and allow chaining.

Return: dijit/_widgetbase function

set

Set a property of the Stateful instance. Sets named properties of the stateful object and notifies the watchers of the property. A programmatic setter may be defined in subclasses.

Return: object function

startup

Gets started after the DOM fragment is added to the document Called after the widget and its children have been created and added to the page, and all related widgets have finished their create() cycle, up through postCreate().

Note that startup() may be called while the widget is still hidden, for example if the widget is inside a hidden dijit/Dialog or an unselected tab of a dijit/layout/TabContainer. For widgets that need to do layout, it’s best to put that layout code inside resize(), and then extend dijit/layout/_LayoutWidget so that resize() is called when the widget is visible.

Return: undefined

validate

Called by oninit, onblur, and onkeypress. Show missing or invalid messages if appropriate, and highlight textbox field.

Return: boolean

ARGUMENT	TYPE	DESCRIPTION
isFocused	Boolean	It is true if the widget is focused.

validator

Overridable function used to validate the text input against the regular expression.

Return: boolean

ARGUMENT	TYPE	DESCRIPTION
val	String	Value of the widget.
con	String	Regular expression.

Public Events

EVENT	RETURN	DESCRIPTION
onClick ()	undefined	The method is called when a user clicks on the widget

onClick

The method is called when a user clicks on the widget.

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