DBCtrls

Use TDBEdit to enable users to edit a database field. TDBEdit uses the Text property to represent the contents of the field. 

TDBEdit permits only a single line of text. If the field may contain lengthy data that would require multiple lines, consider using a TDBMemo object. 

If the application does not require the data-aware capabilities of TDBEdit, use an edit control (TEdit) or a masked edit control (TMaskEdit) instead, to conserve system resources. 

To provide a mask that restricts input and controls the display format of the data, use mask-related properties of TField and descendants. Such properties include: EditMask (TField), DisplayFormat (TDateTimeField), and DisplayFormat (TNumericField). Which property you should use depends on the field's type and the TField descendant that corresponds to that type. 

TDataSet 

TDataSource 

TDBMemo 

TEdit 

TField 

TMaskEdit 

Displaying and Editing Fields in an Edit Box 

Displaying a Single Record 

Using Common Data Control Features 

Navigating Datasets 

Displaying 

Using Object Fields 

Working with Field Components: Overview