Livecycle

About dynamic properties    

Dynamic properties are form object properties that are assigned values from a data source and are updated at run time. For example, the items in a drop-down list can be populated with a list of countries that are stored in a data source.

The following properties of form objects are dynamic and can be bound to values from a data source:

•	List items in a drop-down list or list box

•

A caption

•	A validation pattern message

•	A validation script message

•	A tool tip

•	Screen reader text

Dynamic properties allow you to modify form object properties outside of the form design and rely on a data source. This can be useful in deployment and maintenance scenarios.

In addition, the same data source can supply data to different form designs. For example, a long list of countries can be stored in one data file and used in many forms. You can use a wide variety of data sources, from complex databases to simple XML files.

To identify which form object properties you can set dynamic properties for, LiveCycle Designer ES uses active labels. Active labels can be turned on and off using the Tools > Options > Data Binding dialog box and selecting the Show Dynamic Properties option. For example, here is the active label for the caption for a drop-down list before and after it is dynamically bound to a data source.

In the Data View palette, this icon indicates that the node is dynamically bound to an object.

Note:

If a node is bound to both a dynamic property and to a field, the default icon displays.

To dynamically populate form object properties from a data source, first you need to bind the form object properties to the data file and point to a data file that contains data to be used to populate the form object properties.

Note:

You can bind the form object properties to the data file manually if you know the expected data file structure. In this way, you do not need a data connection.

The following table lists the objects and which active labels they each have.

 

Active Label/ Object

List Items

Specify Item Values

Caption

Validation Pattern Message

Validation Script Message

Tool Tip

Custom Screen Reader Text

Barcodes

 

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Button

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

Check Box

 

 

Y

 

Y

Y

Y

Date/Time Field

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Decimal Field

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Signature Field

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

Drop-Down List

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Email Submit Button

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

HTTP Submit Button

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

Image

 

 

 

 

 

Y

Y

Image field

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

List Box

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Numeric Field

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Password Field

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

Print Button

 

 

Y

 

 

Y

Y

Radio Button

 

 

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Text

 

 

 

 

 

Y

Y

Text Field

 

 

Y

Y

Y

Y

Y

See also 

To set up dynamic properties

About dynamic properties