Cannot Update Text Styled with EDC in a Label

Original Created Oct 25, 2017 | Regeneration Apr 22, 2026

Question

I'm following up on a previous post (link unavailable) about styling text with EDC. After applying EDC styles to a label, I need to update the text programmatically. However, when I keep the text attribute in the EDC component, subsequent changes are ignored. If I remove the text attribute, nothing is displayed.

I've tried using elm_object_item_part_text_set with various part names ("custom", "label2", "default"), but nothing changes.

Here's my EDC file:

collections {
   group { 
      name: "elm/label/base/custom";
      parts {
         text { "label2";
            scale: 1;
            desc { "default";
               color: 0 0 255 254;
               color2: 255 0 0 255;
               visible: 1;
               text {
                  size: 50;
                  font: "Sans";
                  text: "TEXT";
                  align: 0.5 0.5;
                  min: 0 0;
               }
               align: 0.5 0.5;
               rel1.relative: 0.25 0.25;
               rel2.relative: 0.75 0.75;
               map {
                  on: 1;
                  rotation.z: 180;
                  perspective_on: 1;
                  backface_cull: 1;
               }
            }
         }  
      }
   }
}

How can I update this styled text programmatically?

Answer

Problem Understanding

The issue occurs when trying to update text that has been styled using EDC. The main problems are:

The text doesn't update when the text attribute is kept in EDC
The text disappears when the text attribute is removed from EDC
Using elm_object_item_part_text_set with common part names doesn't work

Solution Methods

Add an identifier to the text block:

The text block in EDC needs a name attribute for programmatic access

Example modification:

text { 
   name: "label_test";
   scale: 1;
   desc { "default";
      color: 0 0 255 254;
      // ... rest of the styling
   }
}

Use the correct function with the proper part name:
- Instead of elm_object_item_part_text_set, use elm_object_part_text_set
- The part name should match the name you gave in the EDC file

Code Examples

Here's how to update the text programmatically:

elm_object_part_text_set(label_widget, "label_test", "New Text");

Where:

label_widget is your label object
"label_test" is the name you defined in EDC
"New Text" is the text you want to display

Additional Tips

Ensure the part name in your code matches exactly with the name in EDC (case-sensitive)
If you're using multiple styled labels, give each one a unique name in EDC
Remember that this solution works for labels styled with EDC, not regular labels