Defaults

You can set the initial value of a field, checkbox, radio button or other form component to use one of three values:

• the last value you entered in the component,
• the value the application supplies for the component, or
• a constant

By default, the majority of fields are configured to use the application supplied value. If Surpac left the field blank, the last value entered is used instead. This is known as using the Last value if blank. The default behaviour for fields can be changed by selecting an item from the Customise | Field default values | Default initial type menu. The options are:

Last Value if blank

Selecting this item causes fields to retain the last value entered where the application does not supply a value. For example, if selected for the Layer field of the Recall a File form, this option would not alter the field, but if selected for the Location field of the same form, the last file location would be presented.

To run this function: Choose Customise > Field default values > Default initial value type > Last value if blank

Last Value

Selecting this item causes fields to retain the last value regardless of any other value inserted by the application. For example, if selected for the Layer field of the Recall a File form, this option would present the name of the layer the previous application of this form used.

To run this function: Choose Customise > Field default values > Default initial value type > Last value

Application

Selecting this item causes fields to behave in the same way they did in previous versions of the software, displaying any value entered in the field by the application.

To run this function: Choose Customise > Field default values > Default initial value type > Application

A selection from the Customise > Field default values > Default initial value type menu applies for the duration of the current session. To make a permanent change to the behaviour, select the Customise > Default preferencesmenu item. The Miscellaneous tab has a component labelled Default initial field value that allows specification of field behaviour for this and all later sessions of the software.

To select the type of initial value used by a specific field, use the popup menu for the field.

Saving, loading and clearing the default settings

The type of initial value to use for each field is remembered between sessions of Surpac by writing the information to a file in the current profile directory when the software is exited. The previous five values used for each field are written at the same time.

It is also possible to save the initial value information to a selected profile at any time by selecting Customise > Defaults > Save default database, or, in the Function Chooser, type SAVE USER DEFAULT SETTINGS.

The Select Profile form is presented that allows you to select a profile.

Profile

Select a profile to which the initial value information is to be written. Entering the name of a new profile will cause it to be created.

Choose Apply to apply the function and save the initial value information or Cancel to cancel the function.

To load the initial value information from a selected profile at any time, choose Customise > Defaults > Load default database, or, in the Function Chooser, type LOAD USER DEFAULT SETTINGS. The Select Profile form is presented.

Profile

Select a profile from which the initial value information is to be read.

Choose Apply to apply the function and load the initial value information or Cancel to cancel the function.

Warning:Exiting after loading inital value settings from another profile will cause the loaded values to be written to the current profile.

To clear changes made to the initial value settings for individual fields, choose Customise > Defaults > Clear all user default settings or in the Function Chooser, type CLEAR USER DEFAULT SETTINGS.

The Clear User Default Settings form is presented.

Choose Yes to clear any initial field value selections made for specific fields or choose No to cancel the function.

Scrolling regions

In some cases, it is useful to be able to specify the initial number of rows in a scrolling region. For example, if you want the Block Model Block Colours form to use the colours:

• red
• light orange
• yellow
• green
• blue
• lightish violet

then you will need to set the default number of rows in the Colour scrolling region to six.

To set the default number of rows in a scrolling region, click the right mouse button on any row title, and select the Set default number of rows menu item. The Enter value form is presented, in which you can type the number of rows.

Use application setting

Select this box to use the application supplied number of rows, or leave it unchecked to specify a new number of rows.

Default number of rows

Specify the number of rows the scrolling region should initially display.

Choose OK to save the number of scrolling region rows or Cancel to return to the form without any changes.