Version: Next

ST Get content type

ST Get content type ( {* ;} object {; startSel {; endSel {; startBlock {; endBlock}}}} ) : Integer

Parameter	Type		Description
*	Operator	→	If specified, object is an object name (string) If omitted, object is a field or variable
object	any	→	Object name (if * is specified) or Field or variable (if * is omitted)
startSel	Integer	→	Start of selection
endSel	Integer	→	End of selection
startBlock	Integer	←	Start position of first type of selection
endBlock	Integer	←	End position of first type of selection
Function result	Integer	←	Type of content

This command is not thread-safe, it cannot be used in preemptive code.

Description

The ST Get content type command returns the type of content found in the styled text field or variable designated by the object parameter.

Passing the optional * parameter indicates that the object parameter is an object name (string). During execution, if the object has the focus, the command returns the information of the object being edited; if the object does not have the focus, the command returns the information of the object’s data source (variable or field).
If you omit the * parameter, it indicates that the object parameter is a field or variable. In this case, you pass a field or variable reference instead of a string. During execution, the command returns the information of the variable or field.

The optional startSel and endSel parameters designate a selection of text in object. The startSel and endSel values express a plain text selection, without taking into account any style tags that may be present.

If you pass startSel and endSel, ST Get content type evaluates the contents within this selection.
If you only pass startSel or if the value of endSelis greater than the total number of characters in object, the contents between startSel and the end of the text is evaluated.
If you omit startSel and endSel, the contents within the current text selection is evaluated.

4D provides predefined constants so that you can designate the selection limits automatically in the startSel and endSel parameters. These constants are found in the "Multistyle Text" theme:

Constant	Type	Value	Comment
ST End highlight	Integer	-1001	Designates last character of current text selection in object (*)
ST End text	Integer	0	Designates last character of text contained in object
ST Start highlight	Integer	-1000	Designates first character of current text selection in object (*)
ST Start text	Integer	1	Designates first character of text contained in object

(*) You must pass an object name in object to be able to use this constant. If you pass a reference to a field or variable, the command is applied to all the text of the object.

Note: If startSel is greater than endSel (except when endSel is 0), the command does nothing and the OK variable is set to 0.

The optional startBlock and endBlock parameters retrieve the position of the first and last character of the first homogenous block identified in the object or the selection of the object. For example, if the selection contains an expression and then plain text, startBlock and endBlock will return the limits of the expression. You can make a loop to process all the blocks of the selection.

This command returns a value designating the type of contents identified. You can compare this value with the following constants, found in the "Multistyle Text" theme:

Constant	Type	Value	Comment
ST Expression type	Integer	2	Selection contains only an expression reference
ST Mixed type	Integer	3	Selection contains at least two different types of contents
ST Picture type	Integer	6	Selection contains only a picture (4D Write Pro areas only)
ST Plain type	Integer	0	Selection contains text and no references
ST Unknown tag type	Integer	4	Selection contains only an unknown tag type
ST URL type	Integer	1	Selection contains only a URL reference
ST User type	Integer	5	Selection contains only a custom reference

Example

You want to display context-menu commands based on the type of contents selected in the area.

 Case of
    :(Form event code=On Clicked)
  //we retrieve the selection
       GET HIGHLIGHT(*;"myText";startSel;endSel)
       If(Contextual click&(Macintosh control down=False)) //calls the context menu
          If(startSel=endSel) // no contents selected
  //we enable only certain commands
             DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;2)
             DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;4)
             ENABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;6)
             ...
          Else // we get the content type
             CT_Texttype:=ST Get content type(*;"myText";startSel;endSel)
             Case of // processing of different types
                :(CT_Texttype=ST URL type)
                   DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;6)
                   ENABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;7)
                   ...
                :(CT_Texttype=ST Expression type)
                   DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;6)
                   DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;7)
                   ...
                Else
                   ENABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;6)
                   DISABLE MENU ITEM(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;7)
                   ...
             End case
          End if
          MOUSE POSITION($xCoord;$yCoord;$ButtonState)
          $AlphaVar:=Dynamic pop up menu(<>menu_STYLEDTEXT;"";$xCoord;$yCoord)
          startSel:=-3
          endSel:=-3
       End if
       ...
    End if

Description​

Example​

Description

Example