SAS Component Language Dictionary

PROTECT

Assigns protection to a FRAME entry control or field

Category:

Control or Field

Syntax
Details
Example
See Also

Syntax

PROTECT wcol-names | _ALL_;

wcol-names

lists one or more window columns to protect, or _ALL_ to protect all window columns. To specify multiple window columns, separate the names with blanks.

Type: Character

Details

Protecting a window column prevents the cursor from tabbing to the associated control or field. You can use the PROTECT statement to temporarily override a PROTECT attribute that has been specified for a window column. The column to be protected cannot be an element of an array. To protect an array element, use the FIELD function.

If you protect a field column with the PROTECT statement in FSEDIT applications and issue the MODIFY command to edit the custom screen, the PROTECT attribute is saved for that field column in the PROTECT window.

Window controls can also use the _protect method. Protecting some window controls (block, check box, icon, list box, pushbutton, radio box, scroll bar, and slider) is the same as calling the GRAY function or the _gray method.

The protection status remains in effect until the UNPROTECT statement is used.

The following statements are incorrect because they do not name window columns:

protect a{i};
protect a||b;

Example

Prevent the user from changing the value of the window column TABLENAME after the value has been entered:

if (modified(tablename) and ERROR(tablename)=0)
then protect tablename;