Chapter 4, Exchanging Data Between an External Application
and a Basic XFA Form
XFA Specification
Localization and Canonicalization
145
Picture clauses and their role in output formatting (localization) and input parsing
(canonicalization)
Picture clause
parent element
Output
Input
(Alternate name)
formatting parsing
ui
✔
✔
Role of picture clause
User modification of a data value. For output formatting
(localization), the picture clause specifies the format used
when the container comes into focus (is selected). For input
parsing (canonicalization), the picture clause specifies the
format expected from the user.
<field name="field1" … >
<ui>
<picture> … </picture>
</ui>
</field>
(edit pattern)
format
✔
(output pattern)
Display or print of data. In the case of display, this form
prevails only if the field is not currently in focus (selected).
<field name="field1" … >
<format>
<picture> … </picture>
</format>
</field>
connect
✔
✔
Web Services interactions.
<field name="field1" … >
<connect>
<picture> … </picture>
</format>
</field>