INFO: Issues Regarding Converting DTCs to Run-Time Text (195182)

SUMMARY

In some cases you may want to customize the run-time text generated by Design-Time Controls (DTC). While converting a DTC to run-time text gives you the freedom of directly manipulating the code DTC generates, it causes loss of functionality. Convert a DTC to text only if you are confident you can customize the code without using the functionality provided by the DTC. This article describes the functionality loss caused by converting a DTC to text.

MORE INFORMATION

The following functionality losses are caused when converting a DTC to run- time text:

By converting a DTC to text, the Design-Time Control itself is removed from the Web page, you will no longer be able to use the control itself or its Properties dialog box at design time.
You can no longer use the Script Outline window to reference the script object or its events. The script object will not be present under node " "Client Objects & Events" or "Server Objects & Events" depending on the scripting platform selected.
After converting a DTC to text, if you drag and drop an identical DTC to the Web page, it's possible to have a name conflict if one of the DTCs is not renamed. This can cause unexpected results if ignored.

For example, if you convert a Textbox DTC(Textbox1) to text, and then drag and drop another Textbox DTC to the Web page, Visual InterDev will default its name to "Textbox1." If the first DTC already has a "Textbox1_onchange" event handler, clicking the "onchange" event in the Script Outline Window for object "Textbox1" will not create a separate event handler for the second DTC. It will simply move the cursor to the existing "Textbox1_onchange" event handler. If the first DTC does not already have a "Textbox1_onchange" event handler, Visual InterDev will create a "Textbox1_onchange" event handler, which becomes the event handler for both DTCs.
If you have a DTC referenced by other DTCs, converting the DTC to text will cause functionality loss of DTCs that reference the DTC.

For example, if you convert a Recordset DTC(Recordset1) to text and there is a Grid(Grid1) bounded to Recordset1, when you open your property Dialog Box of Grid1, "Recordset1" is marked in red, and there is no field available for selection. If you drag-drop another Grid (Grid2) to the Web page, it can no longer reference "recordset1" (both the recordset field and the available field are empty).