Creating format elements

Format elements are what toolkit applications use to maintain the definition of formatters. Format elements are the contents of format definitions; that is, format elements are the tags inside the <fmtDef> tag in the definition file for formatters.

To create a format element, follow these steps:

  1. In the main editing area of the FMTE page in the Editor view, right-click the format definition to which you want to add a format element.
  2. Select Add New Format Element. A sub-menu appears listing the format elements you can add, including constant format, simple data formats, compound formats, and custom formats.

  3. Select the format element that you want to add. The new format element will be created inside the format definition in the Outline view and the FMTE page of the Editor view.

    The new format element appears in the Outline view and the Editor view.
  4. In the Editor view, select the newly created format element.
  5. In the Properties view, type the name of the data element this format element formats.

    Type the name of the data element

Apart from creating a format element for a format definition, you can also create format elements for compound format elements. In the Outline view, right-clicking any compound format element allows you to add a format element to that compound format element.

By adding format elements to a format definition you form a format hierarchy.