SalesLogix Basics 3 – Radio Buttons VS Radio Group controls

For this basics article, I just wanted to outline the differences between the Radio Button and Radio Group controls, and when you would want to use one vs. the other.

Both controls provide a similar sort of interface to end users, allowing them to select one out of many available options.  Differences in how the information is saved, however, could determine which method is used.

Using a radiogroup control, you would only need a single field in the database to hold the resulting value.  In addition, the value stored is the actual string displayed in the group itself.  In this example, I create a field called “GroupOptions”.  When this record is saved, the value of “Test1” is stored in the database.

To set up the radiogroup control, you just need to add each option to the “Items” property of the control.  If you set the “Columns” property of the control, then the options will be split evenly between however many columns are defined.

With radio buttons, you would need a field for each option.  A value of either “T” or “F” is stored for the option selected.  For this example, I’ve created 4 fields; “GroupOption1”, “GroupOption2”, “GroupOption3” and “GroupOption4”.  When this record is saved, a value of “T” would be stored in the “GroupOption1” field, while “F” is stored in the “GroupOption2” – “GroupOption3” fields.

Radio buttons only allow one selection within whatever control container the radiobuttons are contained.  In order to group these specific options together, I’ve used a panel control as a control container.  Do do this, you just need to drop the panel control on the form, then drop the RadioButton controls on that Panel control.  Each radiobutton is a seperate control.

So those are the main differences between those controls.  To summarize:

Radiogroup:

• Only one control needs to be defined
• Only one field needs to be added to the database
• Literal value is stored in the database

RadioButtons

• A field for each option must be added to the database
• You must add a control for each field
• If you want to set up multiple option groupings on a form, and additional control container must be used (such as a panel control)
• “T” or “F” is stored in the database for the option selected.

Thanks for reading!  [:)]