# Column contains editable text

_Rewritten May 2014_

_cformat_ switch:  **E**

[Sample image here](https://www.flickr.com/photos/147576700@N02/50585380366/in/album-72157716821830643/) and another [sample image here.](https://www.flickr.com/photos/147576700@N02/50585380366/in/album-72157716821830643/)

When focus is placed on a cell in the column by clicking directly or by navigating with keyboard characters, the cell becomes an edit control, allowing the text contents to be changed. Aside from very basic editing parameters (type of characters, maximum length), validation is left to the application. The XTREE operation can be made to exit, allowing the application to retrieve the updated cell contents from the [Answer](answer_xtree.md) array to validate/correct/reject the edit and then re-enter at a chosen cell.

This option may be combined with and/or modified by several other  codes, [Advanced Coldef Options](advancedcoldefoptions.md), and _flags_ options. In particular:

•	_cformat_ **X** ([Conditional validation](conditionalvalidation.md))

•	_cformat_ **x** ([Unconditional validation](unconditionalvalidation.md))

•	_cformat_ **U** ([Application-editable only](application-editableonly.md))

•	_cformat_ **u** ([Read-only editable](read-onlyeditable.md))

•	_cformat_ ** l ** ([Combo Box](combo_box.md))

•	[InfDef](infdefadvancedcoldef.md)

•	[Mask](maskadvancedcoldef.md)

**See Also**

•	[Editable Tree Controls](editabletreecontrols.md)