The Editable Text Area component for Retool Apps

A click-to-edit input field to enter multiple lines of text.

Editable Text Area is a multi-line input field for text values. It functions similarly to Text Area but renders as plain text until clicked.

Demo

Settings

Editable Text Area includes the following configurable options when building apps in the IDE.

CapitalizeEnable browser autofillAutofill typeDisabledEdit iconEvent handlersForm data keyHiddenHide validation messageHelper textShow on desktopShow on mobileLabelAlignmentLabelsPositionWidthWidth (units)Allow wrappingLoadingMaintain space when hiddenMarginMax lengthMin lengthRegexPlaceholderRead onlyRequiredShow character countAlways show in edit modeEnable spell checkStylesHelper textValue

Properties

All properties for Editable Text Area with supported data types or values. You can write JavaScript almost anywhere in Retool to manipulate or read property values.

autoCapitalize

enum

The type of automatic capitalization that the browser can automatically perform when using virtual or on-screen keyboards.

Values

none	No capitalization.
sentences	Capitalize sentences.
words	Capitalize words.
characters	Capitalize characters.

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autoComplete

boolean

Whether the browser can perform autocomplete on the input field.

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autoFill

enum

The data type of the input field for browsers to autofill if autoComplete is true.

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disabled

boolean

Whether input, interaction, selection, or triggering is disabled.

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editIcon

enum

The icon to display that indicates an editable value.

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events

object[]

A list of configured event handlers that trigger actions or queries.

Properties

event

enum

The event type. Refer to the events section for a list of supported events.

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method

enum

The JavaScript method to perform when type is datasource, widget, state, or localStorage.

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type

enum

The type of action to perform.

Values

datasource	Control query.
widget	Control component.
script	Run script.
state	Set variable.
localStorage	Set localStorage.
util	Perform utility action (e.g., Open URL or Confetti).

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formDataKey

string

The key used by a Form component to assign default values to input fields using form.initialData, and to construct the form.data property.

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global

boolean

Whether the object is globally scoped for use in all app pages.

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hidden

boolean

Whether the component is visible.

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hideValidationMessage

boolean

Whether to hide the validation message if the invalid is true.

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id

string

The unique identifier.

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inputTooltip

string

The tooltip text to display.

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inputValue

string

The or most recently entered value.

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invalid

boolean

Whether the value has failed any validation rules.

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isHiddenOnDesktop

boolean

Whether the component is visible in the desktop layout.

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isHiddenOnMobile

boolean

Whether the component is visible in the mobile layout.

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label

string

The text label to display.

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labelAlign

enum

The horizontal alignment of the label.

Values

left	Left of the input field.
top	Above the input field.

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labelCaption

string[]

The label for the node.

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labelPosition

enum

The position of the label relative to the input field or value.

Values

top	Above the input field or value.
left	Left of the input field or value.

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labelWidth

number

The label width, in the unit specified in labelWidthUnit.

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labelWidthUnit

enum

The specified units for labelWidth, if labelPosition is left.

Values

%	Percent.
px	Pixels.
col	Columns.

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labelWrap

boolean

Whether the label can wrap to multiple lines.

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loading

boolean

Whether to display a loading indicator.

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maintainSpaceWhenHidden

boolean

Whether the component takes up space on the canvas if hidden is true.

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margin

enum

The amount of margin to render outside.

Values

4px 8px	Normal margin.
0	No margin.

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maxLength

number

The maximum number of characters to allow.

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minLength

number

The minimum number of characters to allow.

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pattern

string

A JavaScript regular expression, without forward slashes around the pattern, to validate input if patternType is regex.

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placeholder

string

The text to display within the input field when there is no value.

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pluginType

string

The plugin type.

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readOnly

boolean

Whether user input is read-only.

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required

boolean

Whether a value is required.

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showCharacterCount

boolean

Whether to display a character count with the input field.

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showInEditor

boolean

Whether to remain visible in the editor if hidden is true.

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spellCheck

boolean

Whether the browser can perform spellcheck on the input field.

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style

object

Custom style options in use. Not all style options may be available for all components.

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tooltipText

string

The tooltip text to display.

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validationMessage

string

The validation message to display if invalid is true.

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value

string

The value.

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Methods

JavaScript API methods for interacting with Editable Text Area. You can write JavaScript almost anywhere in Retool and use methods to manipulate data and property values.

clearValidation

Clear the validation message from the input field.

editableTextArea.clearValidation()

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clearValue

Clear the current values.

editableTextArea.clearValue()

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focus

Set focus on the input field.

editableTextArea.focus()

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resetValue

Reset the current value to the default value.

editableTextArea.resetValue()

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scrollIntoView

Scrolls the canvas or parent container so that the selected component appears in the visible area.

editableTextArea.scrollIntoView(scrollIntoViewOptions)

Parameters

scrollIntoViewOptions

object

The scroll options.

Properties

behavior

enum

The scroll behavior.

Values

auto	Scroll immediately to the specified position.
smooth	Scroll gradually to the specified position.

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block

enum

The scroll position relative to the component.

Values

nearest	Scrolls only the minimum amount required for the component to appear in the visible area. Scrolling does not occur if the component is already in view.
start	Scrolls to position the component at the top of the visible area.
center	Scrolls to position the component in the middle of the visible area.
end	Scrolls to position the component at the bottom of the visible area.

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setHidden

Set the hidden value to toggle whether the component is visible. Defaults to true without a parameter.

editableTextArea.setHidden(hidden)

Parameters

hidden

boolean

Whether the component is visible.

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setValue

Set the current value.

editableTextArea.setValue(value)

Parameters

value

string

The value.

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Events

Events are triggered by user interactions, such as clicking a button or entering a value. Use event handlers to trigger queries or other actions in response to events.

blur

The input field is blurred.

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change

The value is changed.

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focus

The input field is focused.

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