You are prolly referring to Format attribute to apply colors to columns using square brackets like -

dw.Object."phone.Format = "[red](@@@)@@@-@@@@;'None'"

Or Display Format -

Positive-format;negative-format;zero-format;null-format

$#,##0.00;[RED]($#,##0.00)

Lookup Help for "Format property (DataWindow object)" or "Display formats"

I think I understand why you experienced this issue, Olan...

Yes, you CAN read or write either a range of or individual data values via code like the example you gave:

ls_data = String(dw_1.Object.Data.Primary.Current[1,3]) // Read data value

dw_1.Object.Data.Primary.Current[1,3] = "foobar" // Write data value

but this notational convention cannot be used to access properties, it can only be used to access data values:

https://docs.appeon.com/pb2019r3/datawindow_reference/ch04s03.html

HTH, John

Hi, Olan -

Modify (or dot-notation), when applied to a column DWObject that resides in the detail band. affects that column object in all rows. I understand that's not the answer you want to hear, but that's the way it works. As Montgomery Scott (Scotty) is apt to say: "I canna change the laws of physics!".

To make a property change to one particular instance (row), you have to apply an expression to the column object's background color property. As I'm sure you're aware, the expression can utilize the column's data value, a dummy column's data value (as Roland suggested), a comparison involving the row number (as Shekar suggested), or it can use other creative techniques, you can even define or change the property's expression itself via Modify.

While all of these suggestions are excellent, I just need to know the correct syntax to update a SINGLE column in a single row via the Modify command.

The reason is that various columns are going to have different colors within a single row.



I know I've DONE this a long time ago. I thought the syntax was to add a row in square brackets after the column name.

*Sigh*

I would put a dummy column into the SQL that is the color number. The expression would set the color to the color column. Then in code you can use SetItem to control which row has the different color.

I have a colors example app that might be useful:

https://www.topwizprogramming.com/freecode_colors.html

This will be good one for enhancement, IMO.

Without a dynamic expression for each row, setting color to any column affects all rows. You need to use a hidden flag Computed Column from SQL and fetch the value of the CC right through the SQL expressions (no need to set its value at runtime). Or set the value of the CC at runtime - you'll have to save the row-status before changing the value of CC and restore the row-status after setting its value for generic behavior if the CC's value is not computed inside SQL.

Some solutions in the order of what works better -

1. Assign the color expression of the Detail band based on the value the CC. This works better than #2 below as the color fills the entire row in the Detail band.

2) Use a row-wide Rectangle control inside DWO placed behind columns with whatever color you want and set its visibility based on the value of the CC. This works better than #3 below.

3) Set background color expressions of the columns based on the value of the CC.

If you want to color alternate rows for EZ-Read format (Zebra-striping), you could use a dynamic expression on the Detail band or Rectangle control (CC not needed). I usually use this format with a soft Blue and White alternate colors -

If( Mod( GetRow(), 2 ) = 0, RGB( 255, 255, 255 ), RGB( 232, 240, 255 ))

You could also use GetSysColor() function for system colors instead of RGB(). See GetSysColor() for color constants -

https://docs.microsoft.com/en-us/windows/win32/api/winuser/nf-winuser-getsyscolor

HTH

PowerObject!