Possible Bug or Known Behavior?

[Aruna]

Hi,

I’m trying to understand why I’m able to change a button’s caption even when it’s disabled.

In the first screenshot, you can see what the application looks like when it first runs. If you type something into the edit box labeled "Type Your Caption Here" and then click the Caption Change button below, the caption of the top button updates as expected.

Next, try typing a new caption, but don’t click the Caption Change button yet. Instead, click the toggle button on the far left — you’ll see that the top button becomes disabled.

Now, if you click the Caption Change button, the caption of the top (disabled) button still updates.

Is this the expected and intended behavior? If so, that’s fine — I can work with it. But if not, what would be the recommended way to handle this? The zip file attached contains the source.

Thank you!

[dbannon]

Yes, while I have never thought about it, I'd expect to be able to change the caption on a disabled button.

Indeed, it annoys me that you don't get to see the Hint when a button is disabled. It makes sense to me to be able to have a hint that says eg, "button disabled because you have a red tie".

I do like your toggle button !   (in the southern hemisphere, down is on, does it have a property to change that ?)

Davo

[Fibonacci]

Disabling a button only prevents user clicks, you can still change its caption or any other property from code. Totally expected. Imho having to re-enable it just to update the caption would be weird and might cause flickering.

[cdbc]

Hi
Hmmm... "if btnCool.Enabled then btnCool.Caption:= 'Hot';" 
Regards Benny

[Thaddy]

else btnCool.Caption:= 'cold';

[Aruna]

Yes, while I have never thought about it, I'd expect to be able to change the caption on a disabled button.

Oh-kay good enough for me!

Indeed, it annoys me that you don't get to see the Hint when a button is disabled. It makes sense to me to be able to have a hint that says eg, "button disabled because you have a red tie".

I suppose we could always test first to see if the button is enabled and if not enabled display that status in a label or whatever works for the user?

I do like your toggle button !   (in the southern hemisphere, down is on, does it have a property to change that ?)

Yes, that property is known as 'aruna' and jokes aside I was in a hurry Davo I did not want to spend too much time putting together a custom component ( Which I will when I find the time to do so) soo.. I fired up my Gimp, grabbed a toggle switch I found on the internet and played with image->transform->flip vertical and took a bit of fiddling to get the two images to line up perfectly in the Timage and that was what I did. The attached screenshots I hope will make you laugh and when I get the time I will put this into a custom component and send your way?

[Aruna]

Hi
Hmmm... "if btnCool.Enabled then btnCool.Caption:= 'Hot';" 
Regards Benny

Hi Benny, whats'up?  So you like it? I will see what I can do with the caption   (I am still waiting for that blue cheese to show up at my door step. Last I checked it was going for $7 bucks which to me is kindda pricey 🤐)

[Aruna]

else btnCool.Caption:= 'cold';

Hi @Thaddy am going to start writing code in all caps if you guys don't stop with the teasing 

[Aruna]

@Davo, the screenshot shows the code...

[Aruna]

Disabling a button only prevents user clicks, you can still change its caption or any other property from code. Totally expected. Imho having to re-enable it just to update the caption would be weird and might cause flickering.

Thank you @Fibonacci so disabling will prevent any interaction but keep status updates such as caption alive? 

[dbannon]

@Davo, the screenshot shows the code...

Cute. A very practicable way to do i !

Davo

[Aruna]

@Davo, the screenshot shows the code...

Cute. A very practicable way to do i !

Davo

I've attached the ZIP file for your toggle switch—enjoy! I'm nearly done customizing the component for the same toggle, just fine-tuning a few things. I’ll send it your way shortly. if the images do not load give it the full path and things should work. Keep me posted .. 

[Joanna]

You can override the set caption method for button to check if it’s enabled

[Aruna]

You can override the set caption method for button to check if it’s enabled

Hi Joanna, Would you mind demonstrating how to do this with a small code example? I have a general idea, but a snippet would really help clarify things. Thanks in advance!

[Aruna]

I do like your toggle button !   (in the southern hemisphere, down is on, does it have a property to change that ?)
Davo

Davo, The attached ZIP archive contains a custom toggle switch control. This component provides two main properties:

• IsOn – indicates the current state of the switch (on or off).
• SouthernHemisphere – flips the On/Off labels vertically (top-to-bottom and vice versa).

To try it out, unzip the archive and open the Lazarus IDE. From the top menu, go to Package → Open Package File (.lpk)..., select switch.lpk, and install the package. Once installed and activated, you’ll see a new tab labeled Aruna in the component palette, containing a single toggle switch icon. Drop it onto a form to test it out.

A screenshot is attached to show how it looks in the IDE.

You won’t believe some of the things I learned while getting this to work!