A text entry control that allows users to enter and edit multiple lines of uniformly-formatted text with the ability to scroll.

The following example sets the text in a text area, selects the text, and listens for when the text value changes:

var textArea = new TextArea();
textArea.text = "Hello\nWorld"; //it's multiline!
textArea.selectRange(0, textArea.text.length);
textArea.addEventListener(Event.CHANGE, textArea_changeHandler);
this.addChild( textArea );
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

Constructor

new()

Creates a new TextArea object.

Available since

1.0.0

.

Variables

@:flash.propertyread onlycurrentState:TextInputState

The current state of the text area.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertydisabledTextFormat:AbstractTextFormat

The font styles used to render the text area's text when the text area is disabled.

In the following example, the text area's disabled text formatting is customized:

textArea.enabled = false;
textArea.disabledTextFormat = new TextFormat("Helvetica", 20, 0xee0000);
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyeditable:Bool

Indicates if the text area is editable.

The following example disables editing:

textArea.editable = false;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertyembedFonts:Bool

Determines if an embedded font is used or not.

In the following example, the text area uses embedded fonts:

textArea.embedFonts = true;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyprompt:String

The text displayed by the text area when the length of the text property is 0.

The following example sets the text area's prompt:

textArea.prompt = "Minimum 8 characters required";
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertypromptTextFormat:AbstractTextFormat

The font styles used to render the text area's prompt text.

In the following example, the text area's prompt formatting is customized:

textArea.promptTextFormat = new TextFormat("Helvetica", 20, 0xcc0000);
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyrestrict:String

Limits the set of characters that may be typed into the TextArea.

In the following example, the text area's allowed characters are restricted:

textArea.restrict = "0-9";
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlyselectionActiveIndex:Int

The character position of the active part of the selection. If the selection is changed with the arrow keys, the active index changes and the anchor index stays fixed. If both the active index and the anchor index are equal, then no text is selected and both values represent the position of the caret.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlyselectionAnchorIndex:Int

The character position of the anchor part of the selection. If the selection is changed with the arrow keys, the active index changes and the anchor index stays fixed. If both the active index and the anchor index are equal, then no text is selected and both values represent the position of the caret.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertysmoothScrolling:Bool

Indicates if scrolling is smooth or strictly by line.

In the following example, smooth scrolling is enabled:

textArea.smoothScrolling = true;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertytext:String

The text displayed by the text area.

When the value of the text property changes, the text area will dispatch an event of type Event.CHANGE.

The following example sets the text area's text:

textArea.text = "Good afternoon!";
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertytextFormat:AbstractTextFormat

The font styles used to render the text area's text.

In the following example, the text area's formatting is customized:

textArea.textFormat = new TextFormat("Helvetica", 20, 0xcc0000);
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertytextPaddingBottom:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the view port's bottom edge and the text.

In the following example, the text padding is set to 20 pixels on the bottom edge:

textArea.textPaddingBottom = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertytextPaddingLeft:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the view port's left edge and the text.

In the following example, the text padding is set to 20 pixels on the left edge:

textArea.textPaddingLeft = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertytextPaddingRight:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the view port's right edge and the text.

In the following example, the text padding is set to 20 pixels on the right edge:

textArea.textPaddingRight = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertytextPaddingTop:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the view port's top edge and the text.

In the following example, the text padding is set to 20 pixels on the top edge:

textArea.textPaddingTop = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertywordWrap:Bool

Determines if the text will wrap when reaching the right edge, or if horizontal scrolling will be required.

In the following example, the text area will not wrap its text:

textArea.wordWrap = false;
Available since

1.0.0

.

Methods

getSkinForState(state:TextInputState):DisplayObject

Gets the skin to be used by the text area when its currentState property matches the specified state value.

If a skin is not defined for a specific state, returns null.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

getTextFormatForState(state:TextInputState):AbstractTextFormat

Gets the text format to be used by the text area when its currentState property matches the specified state value.

If a text format is not defined for a specific state, returns null.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

selectAll():Void

Selects all of the text displayed by the text area.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

selectRange(anchorIndex:Int, activeIndex:Int):Void

Selects the specified range of characters.

The following example selects the first three characters:

input.selectRange(0, 3);
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@stylesetSkinForState(state:TextInputState, skin:DisplayObject):Void

Set the skin to be used by the text area when its currentState property matches the specified state value.

If a skin is not defined for a specific state, the value of the backgroundSkin property will be used instead.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@stylesetTextFormatForState(state:TextInputState, textFormat:AbstractTextFormat):Void

Set the text format to be used by the text area when its currentState property matches the specified state value.

If a text format is not defined for a specific state, the value of the textFormat property will be used instead.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

Inherited Variables

Defined by BaseScrollContainer

@:style@:flash.propertyautoHideScrollBars:Bool

Determines if the scroll bars should be automatically hidden after scrolling has ended, whether it was through user interaction or animation.

In the following example, scroll bar auto-hiding is disabled:

container.autoHideScrollBars = false;

This property has no effect if fixedScrollBars is true. Fixed scroll bars are always visible. Similarly, if showScrollBars is false, then the scroll bars are always hidden.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertybackgroundSkin:DisplayObject

The default background skin to display behind all content added to the group. The background skin is resized to fill the complete width and height of the group.

The following example passes a bitmap for the container to use as a background skin:

group.backgroundSkin = new Bitmap(bitmapData);
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertydisabledBackgroundSkin:DisplayObject

The default background skin to display behind all content added to the group. The background skin is resized to fill the complete width and height of the group.

The following example gives the group a disabled background skin:

group.disabledBackgroundSkin = new Bitmap(bitmapData);
group.enabled = false;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertyelasticEdges:Bool

Determines if the scrolling can go beyond the edges of the viewport when dragging with a touch.

In the following example, elastic edges are disabled:

container.elasticEdges = false;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertyfixedScrollBars:Bool

Determines if the scroll bars are fixed to the edges of the container, without overlapping the container's content, or if the scroll bars are floating above the container's content.

In the following example, the scroll bars are fixed:

container.fixedScrollBars = true;

This property has no effect if showScrollBars is false.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertyhideScrollBarDuration:Float

The duration, measured in seconds, of the animation when a scroll bar fades out.

In the following example, the duration of the animation that hides the scroll bars is set to 500 milliseconds:

container.hideScrollBarDuration = 0.5;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertyhideScrollBarEase:IEasing

The easing function used for hiding the scroll bars, if applicable.

In the following example, the ease of the animation that hides the scroll bars is customized:

container.hideScrollBarEase = Elastic.easeOut;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertyread onlymaxScrollX:Float

The number of pixels the container may be scrolled horizontally in the rightward direction. This value is automatically calculated based on the bounds of the container's viewport.

The scrollX property may have a higher value than the maximum if the elasticEdges property is enabled. However, once the user stops interacting with the container, it will automatically animate back to the maximum position.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlymaxScrollY:Float

The number of pixels the container may be scrolled vertically in the downward direction. This value is automatically calculated based on the bounds of the container's viewport.

The scrollY property may have a higher value than the maximum if the elasticEdges property is enabled. However, once the user stops interacting with the container, it will automatically animate back to the maximum position.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlyminScrollX:Float

The number of pixels the container may be scrolled horizontally in the leftward direction. This value is automatically calculated based on the bounds of the container's viewport.

The scrollX property may have a lower value than the minimum if the elasticEdges property is enabled. However, once the user stops interacting with the container, it will automatically animate back to the minimum position.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlyminScrollY:Float

The number of pixels the container may be scrolled vertically in the upward direction. This value is automatically calculated based on the bounds of the container's viewport.

The scrollY property may have a lower value than the minimum if the elasticEdges property is enabled. However, once the user stops interacting with the container, it will automatically animate back to the minimum position.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertypaddingBottom:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the container's bottom edge and the container's content.

In the following example, the container's bottom padding is set to 20 pixels:

container.paddingBottom = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertypaddingLeft:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the container's left edge and the container's content.

In the following example, the container's left padding is set to 20 pixels:

container.paddingLeft = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertypaddingRight:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the container's right edge and the container's content.

In the following example, the container's right padding is set to 20 pixels:

container.paddingRight = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertypaddingTop:Float

The minimum space, in pixels, between the container's top edge and the container's content.

In the following example, the container's top padding is set to 20 pixels:

container.paddingTop = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertyscrollBarXFactory:() ‑> IScrollBar

Creates the horizontal scroll bar. The horizontal scroll bar may be any implementation of IScrollBar, but typically, the feathers.controls.HScrollBar component is used.

In the following example, a custom horizontal scroll bar factory is passed to the container:

scroller.scrollBarXFactory = () ->
{
	return new HScrollBar();
};
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertyscrollBarXPosition:RelativePosition

Determines the edge of the container where the horizontal scroll bar will be positioned (either on the top or the bottom).

In the following example, the horizontal scroll bar is positioned on the top edge of the container:

container.scrollBarXPosition = TOP;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyscrollBarYFactory:() ‑> IScrollBar

Creates the vertical scroll bar. The vertical scroll bar may be any implementation of IScrollBar, but typically, the feathers.controls.VScrollBar component is used.

In the following example, a custom vertical scroll bar factory is passed to the container:

scroller.scrollBarYFactory = () ->
{
	return new VScrollBar();
};
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertyscrollBarYPosition:RelativePosition

Determines the edge of the container where the vertical scroll bar will be positioned (either on the left or the right).

In the following example, the vertical scroll bar is positioned on the left edge of the container:

container.scrollBarYPosition = LEFT;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyscrollPolicyX:ScrollPolicy

Determines whether the container may scroll horizontally (on the x-axis) or not.

In the following example, horizontal scrolling is disabled:

container.scrollPolicyX = OFF;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyscrollPolicyY:ScrollPolicy

Determines whether the container may scroll vertically (on the y-axis) or not.

In the following example, vertical scrolling is disabled:

container.scrollPolicyY = OFF;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyscrollStepX:Float

The number of pixels the horizontal scroll position can be adjusted by a step (such as with the left/right keyboard arrow keys, or a step button on the horizontal scroll bar).

In the following example, the horizontal scroll step is set to 20 pixels:

container.scrollStepX = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertyscrollStepY:Float

The number of pixels the vertical scroll position can be adjusted by a step (such as with the up/down keyboard arrow keys, or a step button on the vertical scroll bar).

In the following example, the vertical scroll step is set to 20 pixels:

container.scrollStepY = 20.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertyscrollX:Float

The number of pixels the container has been scrolled horizontally (on the x-axis).

When the value of scrollX changes, the container dispatches an event of type ScrollEvent.SCROLL. This event is dispatched when other scroll position properties change too.

In the following example, the horizontal scroll position is modified immediately, without being animated:

container.scrollX = 100.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyscrollY:Float

The number of pixels the container has been scrolled vertically (on the y-axis).

When the value of scrollY changes, the container dispatches an event of type ScrollEvent.SCROLL. This event is dispatched when other scroll position properties change too.

In the following example, the vertical scroll position is modified immediately, without being animated:

container.scrollY = 100.0;
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:style@:flash.propertyshowScrollBars:Bool

Determines if scroll bars are displayed or not.

In the following example, the scroll bars are hidden:

container.showScrollBars = false;
Available since

1.0.0

.

@:style@:flash.propertysimulateTouch:Bool

When simulating touch, mouse events are treated as if they were mouse events instead, allowing the user to click and drag the container with momentum scrolling using the mouse instead of touch.

Generally, this is intended for testing during development and should not be used in production.

container.simulateTouch = true;
Available since

1.0.0

.

private@:dox(show)viewPort:IViewPort

The display object rendered and scrolled within the container, provided by a subclass of BaseScrollContainer.

Available since

1.0.0

.

Defined by FeathersControl

@:flash.propertyread onlycreated:Bool

Determines if the component has been initialized and validated for the first time.

In the following example, we check if the component is created or not, and we listen for an event if it isn't:

if(!control.created)
{
	control.addEventListener(FeathersEventType.CREATION_COMPLETE, creationCompleteHandler);
}

See also:

@:flash.propertyenabled:Bool

@style@:flash.propertyfocusPaddingBottom:Float

Optional padding outside the bottom edge of this UI component when the focusRectSkin is visible.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@style@:flash.propertyfocusPaddingLeft:Float

Optional padding outside the left edge of this UI component when the focusRectSkin is visible.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@style@:flash.propertyfocusPaddingRight:Float

Optional padding outside the right edge of this UI component when the focusRectSkin is visible.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@style@:flash.propertyfocusPaddingTop:Float

Optional padding outside the top edge of this UI component when the focusRectSkin is visible.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@style@:flash.propertyfocusRectSkin:DisplayObject

An optional skin to display when an IFocusObject component receives focus.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertyread onlyinitialized:Bool

Determines if the component has been initialized yet. The initialize() function is called one time only, when the Feathers UI control is added to the display list for the first time.

In the following example, we check if the component is initialized or not, and we listen for an event if it isn't initialized:

if(!control.initialized)
{
	control.addEventListener(FeathersEvent.INITIALIZE, initializeHandler);
}
Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyread onlystyleContext:Class<IStyleObject>

The class used as the context for styling the component. If a subclass of a component should have different styles than its superclass, it should override the get_styleContext getter. However, if a subclass should continue using the same styles as its superclass, it happens automatically.

Available since

1.0.0

.

@:flash.propertystyleProvider:IStyleProvider

When a component initializes, a style provider may be used to set properties that affect the component's visual appearance.

You can set or replace an existing style provider at any time before a component initializes without immediately affecting the component's visual appearance. After the component initializes, the style provider may still be changed, and any properties that were set by the previous style provider will be reset to their default values before applying the new style provider.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

@:flash.propertyvariant:String

May be used to provide multiple different variations of the same UI component, each with a different appearance.

Available since

1.0.0

.

Defined by MeasureSprite

@:flash.propertyexplicitWidth:Null<Float>

@:flash.propertymaxWidth:Float

@:flash.propertyminWidth:Float

Defined by ValidatingSprite

@:flash.propertyread onlydepth:Int

Inherited Methods

Defined by FeathersControl

private@:dox(show)initialize():Void

Called the first time that the UI control is added to the stage, and you should override this function to customize the initialization process. Do things like create children and set up event listeners. After this function is called, Event.INIT is dispatched.

The following example overrides initialization:

override private function initialize():Void {
	super.initialize();

}
Available since

1.0.0

.

move(x:Float, y:Float):Void

Sets both the x and y positions of the control in a single function call.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

  • DisplayObject.x

  • DisplayObject.y

setSize(width:Float, height:Float):Void

Sets both the width and height dimensions of the control in a single function call.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

  • DisplayObject.width

  • DisplayObject.height

private@:dox(show)setStyle(styleName:String, ?state:EnumValue):Bool

Determines if a style may be changed, and restricts the style from being changed in the future, if necessary.

Available since

1.0.0

.

Defined by MeasureSprite

private@:value({ minHeight : 0.0, minWidth : 0.0 })@:dox(show)saveMeasurements(width:Float, height:Float, minWidth:Float = 0.0, minHeight:Float = 0.0, ?maxWidth:Float, ?maxHeight:Float):Bool

Saves the calculated dimensions for the component, replacing any values that haven't been set explicitly. Returns true if the reported values have changed and Event.RESIZE was dispatched.

Available since

1.0.0

.

Defined by ValidatingSprite

isInvalid(?flag:InvalidationFlag):Bool

Indicates whether the control is pending validation or not. By default, returns true if any invalidation flag has been set. If you pass in a specific flag, returns true only if that flag has been set (others may be set too, but it checks the specific flag only. If all flags have been marked as invalid, always returns true.

The following example invalidates a component:

component.setInvalid();
trace(component.isInvalid()); // true
Available since

1.0.0

.

runWithoutInvalidation(callback:() ‑> Void):Void

Calls a function that temporarily disables invalidation. In other words, calls to setInvalid() will be ignored until the function returns.

Available since

1.0.0

.

setInvalid(?flag:InvalidationFlag):Void

Call this function to tell the UI control that a redraw is pending. The redraw will happen immediately before OpenFL renders the UI control to the screen. The validation system exists to ensure that multiple properties can be set together without redrawing multiple times in between each property change.

If you cannot wait until later for the validation to happen, you can call validate() to redraw immediately. As an example, you might want to validate immediately if you need to access the correct width or height values of the UI control, since these values are calculated during validation.

The following example invalidates a component:

component.setInvalid();
trace(component.isInvalid()); // true
Available since

1.0.0

.

private@:dox(show)setInvalidationFlag(flag:InvalidationFlag):Void

Sets an invalidation flag. This will not add the component to the validation queue. It only sets the flag. A subclass might use this function during draw() to manipulate the flags that its superclass sees.

Available since

1.0.0

.

See also:

private@:dox(show)update():Void

Override to customize layout and to adjust properties of children. Called when the component validates, if any flags have been marked to indicate that validation is pending.

The following example overrides updating after invalidation:

override private function update():Void {
	super.update();

}
Available since

1.0.0

.