A multi-line entry field consists of a rectangular box into which users type information that consists of more than one line. When a multi-line entry field is the active object, all text typed from the keyboard is automatically placed into it.

 

The word wrap attribute specifies that the system will automatically move the cursor to the next line when the maximum text width is reached. Note that spaces are allowed to extend past the maximum text width when word wrap is specified.

 

The text attribute lets you specify an initial value for the multi-line entry field. Note that the text can contain linefeed characters ("\n") to denote a line break. If you have specified word wrap, the text will be formatted to fit within the given text width. If you have specified any text limits or have not specified scroll bars, make sure the initial text will fit within the limits. If you specify both word wrap and horizontal scroll bar, the word wrap attribute will be ignored.

 

The text of built-in function returns the current value that the user enters. The text will contain a carriage return and linefeed pair ("\r\n") where the user has entered a carriage return, denoting a hard line break. Soft line breaks, produced by word wrap rather than by the use of the Return key, are not denoted in the string.

 

If you specify ignore tab, the multi-line entry field ignores the Tab key. This allows the use of the Tab key to move to the next control in the dialog box, and is required by CUA in a dialog box.

 

You can use the text width ... height ... attributes to specify the maximum extent of the text entered into the multi-line entry field, expressed in pixels. By default, the maximum text extent is defined by the window size if the multi-line entry field has no scroll bar. Otherwise, the text extent is unlimited. Note that if word wrap is specified, spaces are allowed to extend past the maximum width.

 

Use the text size attribute to specify a limit on the number of characters allowed in the field.