# Panel Designer

Using NOMADS+ Toolbar |

The NOMADS+ Toolbar is a toolset that is used for application screen development and works in conjunction with the Design panel. The NOMADS+ Toolbar consists of two main components: NOMADS+ Toolbar and Design panel. Each of these windows can be moved and positioned anywhere on the desktop. The functionality of the other components, such as Properties, Header Panel, etc., remains unchanged.

To select the NOMADS+ Toolbar, use one of the following methods:

Location | Method
From the NOMADS Panel Designer | Select Utilities > Nomads+ from the menu bar.
From the Library Object Selection | Select Designer > Nomads+ from the menu bar before creating a new panel or selecting an existing panel.

Starting with PxPlus 2025, the NOMADS+ Toolbar is the panel designer by default, but this can be changed, if desired. Panel designer settings are saved by project. See Working with Projects.

Below is an example of the NOMADS+ Toolbar. The design panel on the right shows the ProductCode multi-line control is selected, and the NOMADS+ Controls Grid on the left shows the corresponding PRODUCTCODE row is highlighted.

The NOMADS+ Toolbar is comprised of a Menu Bar, Controls Toolbar, Ribbon Bar, Controls Grid and a separate Design panel. The name of the current project is also displayed.

(The project name display was added in PxPlus 2023.)

When selecting a panel object from the Library Object Selection window, the NOMADS+ Toolbar and Design panel are launched. Each NOMADS+ Toolbar/Design panel that is launched is associated with a unique ID number, with each having the same background color.

#### Note:
The background color is only used for identification purpose when in design mode. When testing a panel, the panel reverts to the true background color that has been assigned to it.

The size and location of the NOMADS+ Toolbar/Design panel persist, which means that the size and location at closing will be retained the next time these are accessed.

The Design panel can be locked to the NOMADS+ Toolbar so that these can move simultaneously, although the Design panel can be moved independently at any time.

The NOMADS+ Toolbar and Design panel windows work concurrently so that making changes to one is immediately reflected in the other.

(The NOMADS+ Toolbar was added in PxPlus 2014.)

## Menu Bar

The Menu Bar consists of the following selections: Panel, Edit, Controls, Options, Utilities, Sizing, Projects, iNomads, Panel Details, Wiki Info, Help and Quit.

The options available for each of these selections are listed below in the order they are displayed on the Menu Bar.

Panel | Drop-down menu for panel level options.
Header | Display Panel Definition properties. Same as the Header tool bar button.
Copy to | Copy the current panel to another library or to a new library name.
Print | Print the details of all panel controls. Same as the Print tool bar button.
Menus | Define a menu bar for the panel. See Menu Bar.
Save | Save changes to the panel without exiting. Same as the Save tool bar button.
Lock to Toolbar | Locks the Design panel to the NOMADS+ Toolbar to allow these to be moved simultaneously. #### Note: The Design panel can be moved independently at any time.
Show Tooltip | Display a floating tooltip showing the name and position/size co-ordinates for a selected object. When launching the NOMADS Panel Designer for the first time, the default setting of this option coincides with the Hide tips system option, which is found by selecting the PxPlus icon in the upper left corner of the NOMADS Panel Designer. If Hide tips is initially Off, then Show Tooltip will be set to On. To suppress tooltips from displaying each time you access the Panel Designer, set Show Tooltip to Off.
Default to Pointer | Sets the Pointer Tool as the default for the NOMADS+ Toolbar/Design panel. Setting this option to Off changes the default from the Pointer Tool to the Button control. (The Pointer tool and Default to Pointer option in NOMADS+ were added in PxPlus 2019.)
Test | Switch to test mode. Same as the Test tool bar button.
Close | Exits the NOMADS+ Toolbar/Design panel with the option to save/abandon changes.
Delete Panel | Delete the panel from the current library.

Edit | Drop-down menu for panel editing options. These may also be invoked via quick key sequences (where indicated). A list of Edit Keys is also available on the NOMADS+ Toolbar Help menu.
Undo | Undo up to 50 changes. Same as the Undo tool bar button.
Redo | Sequentially reapplies the last changes that were undone by the Undo option until a new change is made. After a new change, Redo will recall only changes that were "undone" after the newest change. (The Redo functionality was added in PxPlus 2014 Feature Pack 1 - Update 0005.)
Delete Object | Same function as the Delete key.
Size | Set sizing mode for selected object(s). Use arrow keys to change dimensions. Press Enter to set the new size.
Move | Set moving mode for selected object(s). Use the four arrow keys to move object. Press Enter to set the new location.
Paste | Paste object(s) from Clipboard.
Cut | Cut selected object(s).
Copy | Copy selected object(s).
Select All | Select all of the components on the panel.
Block Paste | Launch the Block Paste dialogue for merging objects from another panel.
Duplicate Object | Create a duplicate of a selected object with the same dimensions and properties as the original. See Duplicating Components.
New Object | Create a new object with the same dimensions as the original but with none of its properties. See Duplicating Components.
Align or Distribute | Launch options for group spacing of selected controls.
Grid Alignment | Change grid alignment for the current panel.
Show grid | Display grid lines on the panel.
Tab order | Launch the Tab Order Definition dialogue. See Tab Order.

Controls | These options are also accessible as buttons in the Controls Toolbar.
Button | Single button.
Radio Button | Radio button.
Check box | Check box for toggling On/Off (or Tri-State) options.
List box | View items as a list.
Drop box | Drop-down menu of items/values.
Multi-line | Input field.
Grid | Columns and rows of cells for entering information.
Chart | Chart-style illustrations.
Data Class | Standardized Data Class definitions.
Dictionary | Reference to data dictionary table.
Standard Text | Plain system font for display text.
Fonted Text | Windows fonts for display text (titles, labels).
Image | Bitmap or multimedia item.
Boxes | Frame lines for grouping panel sections.
Shapes | Shapes such as Pie, Arc, Polygon, etc.
Vertical Sbar | Vertical scrollbar.
Horizontal Sbar | Horizontal scrollbar.
Tab Selector | Create tabbed folder.
External Control | Use an External Control.
Embed Panel | Place contents of another panel onto the current panel.
Group Items | Used for selecting multiple controls in a group so that the same function (i.e. copying/pasting, moving, deleting) can be applied to them at the same time. When this tool is selected, use the mouse to draw a selection box around the controls to be grouped. (Similar functionality to the Pointer Tool.)
Pointer Tool | Use the Pointer Tool (default) for selecting either a single control or for drawing a selection box around multiple controls in a group so that the same function (i.e. copying/pasting, moving, deleting) can be applied to them at the same time. (Similar functionality to the Pointer Tool used in Property Sheets.) Setting the Default to Pointer option (on the Panel menu) to Off changes the default from the Pointer Tool to the Button control. (The Pointer tool and Default to Pointer option in NOMADS+ were added in PxPlus 2019.)

Options | Miscellaneous options.
Create Label For Dictionary Element | When selected (displays a check mark), this option generates a fonted text label for a data dictionary Element control (see Data Element Controls) when the control is drawn on the panel. At the same time, the Include Element Label check box is selected. Both of these options remain selected until either one is deselected or the Panel Designer is exited. (The Include Element Label check box was added in PxPlus 2018 Update 0001.) #### Note: This option has no effect on Check Box and Radio Button element controls and will be ignored if selected. These controls will be created as normal. To apply this option:
1. | Select the Create Label For Dictionary Element option.
2. | Select an element to be placed on the panel (see Element). The Element button changes to dark red and displays the name of the selected element. At the same time, the Include Element Label check box displays, already selected.
3. | Draw the element control. (At this point, a message displays only if the selected element is associated with a Dynamic Data Class.)
4. | A Fonted Text Properties window displays for the generated element label. By default, the label is positioned to the left of the control but can be adjusted if needed.
Change Bulk Edit/Property Sort Order | Opens the Change Bulk Edit/Property Sort Order window for customizing how property groupings are displayed in Property Sheets, the Panel Bulk Edit Utility, and the Library Bulk Edit and Search Utility (for the Properties to Edit grid).

Utilities | Drop-down menu for panel/library utilities.
Bulk Edit | Allows you to change the design properties of two or more selected panel controls within the current active panel. See Panel Bulk Edit Utility.
Dependency Definition | Launches utility that enables selected controls to be hidden, locked, enabled based on a preset condition. See Dependency Definitions.
Drag&Drop | Launches utility that allows selected items to be moved between controls at run time. See Drag and Drop Utility.
Group Assignment | Launches utility for assigning controls to a group name for a selected library and panel. See Group Assignment (Panel Level).
Suppress Groups | Launches utility for choosing which group(s) of controls to display or temporarily suppress from displaying on the current panel in the NOMADS Panel Designer. See Suppress Groups. (The Suppress Groups utility was added in PxPlus 2021.)
Visual Class Assignment | Launches utility for assigning visual classes to controls. See Visual Class Assignment.
Resize | Launches the Custom Sizing Definition Utility for defining resizing options for the panel and for all the controls on it.
Tab Order Definition | Launches utility for defining the tab sequence. See Tab Order.
User CTLS | Launches utility for assigning CTL values that are used to associate programs or events with specific function key values when running the current panel. See User-Defined CTLS.
Auto Complete | Launches utility for defining auto complete functionality for use in a Multi-Line Control. See Auto Complete.
Calendar | Launches utility for defining calendar functionality for use in a Multi-Line Control. See Calendar.
Assign Substitute Panels | Launches Substitute Panel Maintenance for specifying conditions to apply when loading a substitute panel instead of the original one.
Assign Alternate Panels | Launches Alternate Panel Maintenance for specifying conditions to apply when resizing and displaying an alternate panel instead of the original one.
Nomads+ | Launches a multi-functional dialogue that combines folder style and property sheets, listing all panel controls and specific properties in a grid format.
Property Sheets | Displays the properties for a selected control using a two-column table format. See Using Property Sheets.
Folder Style | Displays the properties for a selected control using a tabbed folder format. See Using Folder Style.

Sizing | Drop-down menu for panel and/or objects sizing.
Fixed | Panel size is fixed and objects have fixed sizes and locations.
Resizable | Panel is resizable but objects have fixed sizes and locations.
Resizable/Auto Scroll | Panel is resizable, and objects have fixed sizes. However, specific objects can be set to scroll by selecting the Enable Scrolling property in their Properties table or in the Custom Sizing Definition Utility.
Resizable/Auto Size | Panel is resizable, and objects are resized and relocated based on the ratio of the original size to the new panel size.
Resizable/Custom | Panel is resizable, and each object can be resized (Auto Size) or remain fixed in size (Fixed). Auto size objects are automatically relocated, whereas fixed-sized objects will have the following Movement options available: Default, Default (Centered), or Anchored (Top, Bottom, Left, Right, Top/Left, Top/Right, Bottom/Left and Bottom/Right).

Projects | Drop-down menu for projects.
Create New Project | Launches the Create Project dialogue for entering a new project for the current working directory. Click the Query button to select a different working directory.
Add to Project | Launches the Add to Project dialogue for adding the current task to an existing project that is selected from the Project drop box. To manage all the tasks within a project, see Project Maintenance. For information on adding tasks to a project from other locations, see Adding Tasks to Projects from Other Locations.

iNomads | #### Note: iNomads is not available with a base PxPlus activation. Contact your PxPlus reseller or visit the PxPlus website www.pvxplus.com for product information and licensing. Lists options for creating and running a panel in iNomads. (The iNomads menu was added to the Panel Designer in PxPlus 2016.)
Create/Edit Transaction | Launches iNomads Transaction Maintenance for defining the program or NOMADS panel to use for an iNomads application.
Run transaction | Displays the current saved panel in iNomads in "test" mode on a new Web browser page using the admin template. This allows you to preview the panel so you can determine if further adjustments are needed in the NOMADS Panel Designer. If the panel already exists in iNomads Transaction Maintenance, that transaction will be run. #### Note: This "test" functionality is not available when running WindX.

Panel Details | Launches the Panel Details dialog. (The Panel Details dialog was added in PxPlus 2018.)
| Launches the Panel Details dialog, which contains a summary list of panel information and includes the following categories: Alternate Panels, Dependencies, Drag And Drop, Groups, Menu, Substitute Panels, User CTLS and Visual Classes. The category headings are clickable, invoking the associated utility program to edit the panel.

Wiki Info | (The Wiki Info menu option was added in PxPlus 2023.)
| Spawns EZWeb for the PxPlus Wiki (if not already running) and then displays panel information for the current NOMADS panel in a new tab on your default Web browser. Example: When the PxPlus Wiki launches, the information for the current panel, Product_Mnt, displays:

Help | Additional Help options.
Edit Keys | Provides a list of keystroke combinations that are mapped to NOMADS functionality; i.e. Ctrl + S = Save, Ctrl + C = Copy, Ctrl + V = Paste. #### Note: The standard edit keys Home and End apply only when using the Folder Style and Property Sheet versions of the NOMADS Panel Designer.
About | NOMADS Designer version number.

Quit |
| Exits the NOMADS+ Toolbar/Design panel with the option to save/abandon changes.

## Controls Toolbar

The Controls toolbar is a collection of creation tools that are used when adding controls to any panel. These tools are explained below.

To create a control:

| 1. | Click the appropriate tool in the Controls toolbar.
| 2. | Draw the control on the panel by holding down the left mouse button, dragging the dotted outline to the desired size and releasing the mouse button. The control's Properties window displays.
| 3. | Enter the associated logic and set other design properties as needed.

For information on drawing, resizing, moving and arranging objects in the Panel Designer, see Creating Panel Controls and Modifying Objects.

| Pointer Tool | Use the Pointer Tool (default) for selecting either a single control or for drawing a selection box around multiple controls in a group so that the same function (i.e. copying/pasting, moving, deleting) can be applied to them at the same time. (Similar functionality to the Pointer Tool used in Property Sheets.) Setting the Default to Pointer option (Panel menu) to Off changes the default from the Pointer Tool to the Button control. (The Pointer tool and Default to Pointer option in NOMADS+ were added in PxPlus 2019.)
| Button | Standard button control familiar to all graphical user interface users.
| Radio Button | Radio buttons typically appear in a group of two or more circular buttons, where only one button in the group may be activated (set to On) at any time.
| Check Box and Tri-State | Users can toggle check boxes between states: On to select an option, Off to disable it. An optional third state may be defined (for a Tri-State control).
| List Box | List box controls allow users to select items from a displayed list. The different list box styles available in NOMADS include Standard, Formatted, List View, Report View and Tree View.
| Drop Box | A drop box is similar to a list box, but it only displays a single line of text and provides a drop-down arrow button for access to other items in the list.
| Multi-Line | A multi-line control is an input field used primarily for entering one or more lines of text.
| Fonted/Fixed Text | Provides headings and labels for controls in a panel. Fonted text provides several style options. Fixed (standard) text is for fixed PxPlus font only.
| Image/Picture | Places a graphic on the panel. Does not respond to events.
| Box/Frame | Draws a box/frame around a selected group of controls on the panel. Does not respond to events.
| Shape | Draws graphics on a panel. Does not respond to events.
| Folder | Panels can be set up to display as a layered file folder to provide access to tabbed sub-panels.
| Grid | The grid is a two-dimensional array of cells (similar to a spreadsheet) that may comprise a combination of different panel components.
| Chart | Creates a chart-style illustration on the panel.
| Vertical/Horizontal Scrollbar | Vertical and horizontal scrollbars provide slider controls.
| External Control | Creates a control that allows you to integrate external components produced by third-party vendors into your Windows-based PxPlus application (e.g. progress bar, spreadsheet, browser or calendar). The types of external controls that can be created are Chromium Browser, ActiveX Controls, PVX Plus Controls and .NET Controls. (The Chromium Browser Object was added in PxPlus 2017.) (Support for .NET controls was added in PxPlus 2025.)
| Embed Panel | Allows you to place the contents of another panel onto the current panel.
| Group Items | Used for selecting multiple controls in a group so that the same function (i.e. copying/pasting, moving, deleting) can be applied to them at the same time. When this tool is selected, use the mouse to draw a selection box around the controls to be grouped. (Similar functionality to the Pointer Tool.)
| Data Class | (Available only if Data Class Definitions file exists) This button (or the Query down arrow) displays a list of defined data classes stored in the providex.dcl file. For information on creating data classes, see Data Classes. Select a data class for the type of control to be placed on the panel. When selected, the text Data Class is replaced with the name of the selected class, and the button color changes to dark red. When the control is drawn, the Properties window is automatically loaded with information from the selected class.
| File | (Available only if Data Dictionary file exists) This button (or the Query down arrow) displays a list of dictionary files stored in the providex.ddf file. Select the dictionary file that contains the element(s) to be placed on the panel, and then use the Element button to select an element from the selected file. When a file is selected, the text File is replaced with the name of the selected file, and the button color changes to dark red.
| Element | (Available only if Data Dictionary file exists) If a dictionary File was selected previously, this button (or the Query down arrow) displays a list of the elements in the selected file only. If no dictionary File was selected, this button displays a list of all the elements in all dictionary files (sorted by Table Name). Elements are stored in the providex.dde file. For information on defining elements, see Element Description. Select an element to be placed on the panel. When selected, the text Element is replaced with the name of the selected element. If a dictionary File was not selected previously, then the text File is replaced with the name of the dictionary file containing the selected element. The Element button color changes to dark red. When the control is drawn, the Properties window is displayed for the selected element. #### Note: When drawing a data element control: • If the element was defined with a data class that is not dynamic, the element values will be written to the control properties. • If the element was defined with a dynamic data class, a message will ask if the element values are to overwrite data class values for corresponding properties. Respond Yes to apply the element values or No to apply the data class values. See Dynamic Control Properties. (Dynamic data classes and properties were added in PxPlus 2018.)
| Include Element Label | (Available only when a Data Dictionary element is selected) When selected, this option generates a fonted text label for a data dictionary Element control (see Data Element Controls) when the control is drawn on the panel. At the same time, the Create Label For Dictionary Element option (Options menu) is selected. Both of these options remain selected until either one is deselected or the Panel Designer is exited. #### Note: This option has no effect on Check Box and Radio Button element controls and will be ignored if selected. These controls will be created as normal. To apply this option:
1. | Select an element to be placed on the panel (see Element). The Element button changes to dark red and displays the name of the selected element. At the same time, the Include Element Label check box displays.
2. | Click the Include Element Label check box.
3. | Draw the element control. (At this point, a message displays only if the selected element is associated with a Dynamic Data Class.)
4. | A Fonted Text Properties window displays for the generated element label. By default, the label is positioned to the left of the control but can be adjusted if needed.
(The Include Element Label check box was added in PxPlus 2018 Update 0001.)

## Ribbon Bar

The Ribbon Bar consists of functions that are commonly used for the development of screen panels. A list of available selections is provided below.

| Save | Saves changes to the panel without exiting.
| Test | Switches to test mode.
| Properties | Displays the properties for the selected control.
| Header Panel | Displays Panel Definition properties.
| Menu | Defines a menu bar for the panel. See Menu Bar.
| Undo | Undo up to 50 changes.
| Redo | Sequentially reapplies the last changes that were undone by the Undo option until a new change is made. After a new change, Redo will recall only changes that were "undone" after the newest change. (The Redo functionality was added in PxPlus 2014 Feature Pack 1 - Update 0005.)
| Bulk Edit | Allows you to change the design properties of two or more selected panel controls within the current active panel. See Panel Bulk Edit Utility.
| Cut | Cut selected object(s).
| Copy | Copy selected object(s).
| Paste | Paste object(s) from the Clipboard.
| Commit | Invokes the TortoiseSVN Commit procedure for committing panel changes to the repository. This option is enabled only if both of the following conditions are met: • The programs/files associated with the current panel are integrated with the PxPlus Version Control System Using TortoiseSVN. • Changes to the current panel have been saved.
| Up Down | Moves a selected row up or down within the grid only if that row has the Tab Stop check box selected. Moving a selected row changes the tab order of the controls in the current panel. The tab order can also be modified in the Tab Order Definition window, which is accessed either by selecting Tab order from the Edit menu or by selecting Tab Order Definition from the Utilities menu. See Tab Order.
| Test using Alternate/Substitute Panels | (Available only when Alternate Panels and/or Substitute Panels have been assigned to the current panel) Select this check box to test the alternate or substitute panel logic for the current panel when the Test option is selected. To test the current panel without the alternate or substitute panel logic, uncheck this option (default). (The Test using Alternate/Substitute Panels check box was added in PxPlus 2017 Update 0002.)
| Suppress Groups | Click the text portion of this button to launch the Suppress Groups utility that is used for choosing which group(s) of controls to display or temporarily suppress from displaying on the current panel in the NOMADS Panel Designer. Click the drop down arrow to access a Display All Groups option for displaying all groups on the current panel. (The Suppress Groups utility was added in PxPlus 2021.)

## Controls Grid

The Controls grid displays all the controls in the current panel in tab order sequence.

Within this grid, the following most commonly used parameters for each control can be modified, and any changes made are automatically reflected in the Design panel:

Control | Unique name assigned to the control.
(Properties Button) | Brings up the properties window for the selected control. Works the same as the Properties button on the Ribbon Bar. Example: If the row selected is a Multi-Line control, clicking the Properties button invokes the Multi-Line Properties window.
Type | Type of control (i.e. Button, Multi Line, etc.). When creating List Box, Chart and Shape controls, the specific type of List Box, Chart and Shape is also displayed. (The specific type of List Box, Chart and Shape was added in PxPlus 2019.)
Text | Text associated with the control.
Column | Starting column position of the control.
Line | Starting line position of the control.
Width | Width of the control in number of columns.
Height | Height of the control in number of lines.
Tab Stop | Indicates whether the control is included in the tabbing sequence.
Movement | Indicates the resizing behavior set for the control. See Panel Resizing.
(Delete Button) | Deletes the currently selected control. If the control was deleted in error, use the Undo toolbar button to bring it back. The deleted control is not written to the Clipboard; therefore, it cannot be pasted. (The Delete button was added in PxPlus 2020.)