1.8.3 Edit screen definition file

1.8.3.1 Field definition input mask
 
     The Edit option uses the following Data Field input mask to input
information required for defining a data field: 
 
                               DEFINE DATA FIELD 
                               - - - - - - - - -

     Field ID Name            : _______   Auto Skip (T/F)         : _____
     Field Type (C/D/I/V)     : __        Justify (L/R/N)         : __
     Row / Column Number      : __/__     Alpha-Numeric (A/L/N/S) : __
     Field Length             : __        Minimum Input           : ___
     Default/Calculation : ________________________
 
 
     The field ID name is a mnemonic used to identify the various data fields
in a screen definition file.  The ID name may be any combination of 8 letters
or numbers but must be unique for each data input field. 
 
     The auto skip option determines whether the cursor should automatically
skip to the next field in the screen file when the last character in that
field is input or whether the cursor should stop on that last character and
signal that the end of the field has been reached by ringing the alarm bell. 
 
     A data field may be one of four possible types: Calculation,
Duplicate, Index, Variable.  A Variable field allows the information in
the the field to vary as the user likes.  An Index field allows the field
value to vary.  Some programs, such as the Data Base Manager, use this field as
an index into the data base, requiring that the value of this field be unique
for each record.  A Duplicate field is an index field that is not required to
be unique for the data base.  A Calulation field does not allow input but
reflects the result of a numeric expression involving other numeric data fields
in the file.  All fields in a screen definition file should be Variable
unless another type is specifically required. The default field type is
Variable. 
 
     The data field contents may be displayed right or left justified within
the field by specifying jusification as Left, Right, or None.
Numeric fields are usually right justified while alphabetic fields are
normally left justified.  Be aware that justification of numbers, especially
decimal values, may affect sorting. 
 
     The row and column numbers indicate the location of the field on the
console screen and are restricted by the console screen size.  Row numbers are
normally between 0 and 23 inclusive while column numbers are between 0 and 79
inclusive. 
 
    Information accepted by the data field may be restricted by
specifying the input type as follows: 
 
          Alphanumeric - Accepts any Numeric or Letter character. 
          Numeric - Accepts number 0-9,a decimal point, or a plus or minus sign.
          Letters - Accepts letters of the alphabet, a hyphen, or a period. 
          Special - Accepts any character on the keyboard except vector keys. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
     The field length indicates the maximum number of characters the field may
accept.  The maximum data field length is forty(40), the default is zero(0). 
The user may also specify the minimum number of characters the field must
accept which may not be less than zero or more than the field length.  The
default minimum is zero (0). 
 
     The user may specify a constant default value for the Variable, Index, and
Duplicate fields by entering a string whose length is less than the maximum
field length in the Default/Calculation input field. The value of another data
field may be used as the default by entering the name of the default field
enclosed in square brackets in the Default/Calculation input field instead of a
constant default string.  Numeric expressions for Calculation fields may be any
valid algebraic expression using the four basic operators: addition (+),
subtraction (-), multiplication (*), and division (/), the ID names of any
numeric data fields in the current file, numeric constants, and parenthesis.
The value of a data field ID name in the expression is assumed to be zero if
the data field ID name is not a member of the screen file or is not a valid
number. 
 
     When all the necessary information has been entered, the user may press
the <ENTER> key to return to the edit option level.  If the <ESC> key is
pressed, the information entered is ignored and the previous field definition
is redisplayed. 
 
1.8.3.2 Prompt definition input mask
 
                              DEFINE PROMPT FIELD 
                              - - - - - - - - - -
 
          Prompt Number : __
          Row Number    : __
          Column Number : __
          Prompt : __________________________________________
 
 
     The prompt definition input screen functions similarly to the data field
definition input screen.  The prompts are numbered according to their positions
on the console screen and may be referenced by this number. 
 
     The row and column numbers indicate the location of the prompt field on
the console screen and are restricted by the console screen size.  Row numbers
are normally between 0 and 23 inclusive while column numbers usually are
between 0 and 79 inclusive. 
 
     The prompt text may be any string of up to forty(40) characters.  Prompt
fields may be used for any purpose the user desires (i.e. as prompts for data
fields, titles, borders, or decoration).  They do not affect the value of the
data fields in any manner but may affect their display if their locations
overlap.  Pressing the <ENTER> key returns the user back to the edit option
prompt line.  Pressing the <ESC> key causes the information to be erased and
replaced with the previously displayed prompt field definition. 
 
 
 
 
 
 






1.8.3.3 Edit options
 
     The input mask displayed on the screen at run time indicates whether the
user is in the Field or Prompt mode.  Just below either one is the edit
prompt line whose bold letters indicate which keys must be pressed to execute
the various edit options.  The edit prompt line appears as follows : 
 
          Upper Field  Add    Back Examine Test 
          Lower Prompt Delete Next Change  Quit: 
 
The edit options are described as follows: 
 
            Add -   Instructs the program to add the prompt or field definition
                    shown to the screen definition file. 
                    
            Back -  Displays the previous prompt or field definition. 
             
            Change - Allows the user to change the prompt or field definition
                    shown. 
                      
            Delete - Instructs the program to search for the ID name or prompt
                    number shown and remove it from the screen definition file.
                    However, the field or prompt definition remains on the
                    screen, allowing the user to change it and then add it 
                    back to the file. 

            Examine - Instructs the program to display the definition of the
                    ID name or prompt number currently showing on the console
                    screen.  (i.e. Press the <C> key, change the field name, 
                    press the <ENTER> key, then press the <E> key to examine 
                    the field definition for the ID name just entered). 
                     
            Field - Instructs the program to display the field definition input
                    mask. 
                      
            Lower - Instructs the program to position the field or prompt input
                    mask on the upper half of the console screen thus allowing
                    the user to view the lower half of the screen file 
                    currently being defined. 
         
            Next -  Displays the next prompt or field definition.
              
            Prompt - Instructs the program to display the prompt definition
                    input mask. 
                     
            Quit -  Instructs the program to return to the Main menu level.
              
            Test -  Allows the user to see how the screen definition file will 
                    run when used by an outside program.  The input mask is 
                    removed from the console screen and the user may test the 
                    current screen definition.  When the <ENTER> or <ESC> key 
                    is pressed the input mask is redisplayed and more prompts or
                    fields may be added, changed or deleted. 
                     
            Upper - Instructs the program to position the field or prompt input
                    mask on the lower half of the console screen thus allowing 
                    the user to view the upper half of the screen file 
                    currently being defined. 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
1.8.4 Get old screen defintion
 
     When the <G> key is pressed at the Main menu level the following screen
will be displayed: 
 
                             GET SCREEN DEFINITION 
                            ======================= 
 
 
                         Volume    :  _______ 
                         File      :  __________ 
                         Type      :  SCRN 
 
 
 
          <ENTER> to execute,<ESC> to abort 
 
The cursor will be placed at the begining of the Volume input field, the user
may then change the file information on the screen.  Pressing the <ENTER> key
causes the program to locate the file specified and copy its contents into a
temporary file that may be edited.  If the file is found and the copy
successful, the program will return to the Main menu level after displaying the
message : 
 
                             STATUS: File loaded. 
 
Otherwise an error message will be displayed explaining the problem in finding
or copying the file.  If the <ESC> key is pressed, the program returns to the
Main menu level. 
 
 






























1.8.4.1  Screen Definition Example
 
     The following is an example of the inputs normally required to create,
test, and update an input screen definition file: 
 
(1)     Press the <E> key from the Main menu to Edit the screen
        definition.  The Data Field input mask will be displayed on the upper
        half of the screen, the lower half should be blank. 
         
(2)     Press <C> key to change the field definition.  The cursor will be
        placed in the first input field. 
         
(3)     Enter the Data Field definition as follows: 
        <F> <I> <R> <S> <T> <RETURN>  {Identifies the field name as "FIRST".} 
        <TAB> <L> <RETURN>  {Uses default field type of Variable and sets
        justification (left).} 
        <space> <4> <TAB>  {Sets field row location.} 
        <space> <8> <TAB>  {Sets field column location.} 
        <A> <RETURN>  {Requires alphabetic input only.} 
        <1> <0> <TAB>  {Allows up to 10 characters input but uses default
        minimum of zero and default value of blanks.} 
        <ENTER>  {returns to the edit option prompt line.} 
         
(4)     Press the <A> key to Add the field to the current screen definition
        file. 
 
(5)     Press the <U> key to show the upper half of the current screen
        definition file.  The field previously defined will appear on the forth
        row and the eighth column as fifteen blanks represented by underscores.
        The Data Field definition input mask will be displayed on the lower 
        half of the console screen. 
         
(6)     Press the <P> key to display the Prompt Field definition input mask
        on the lower half of the screen. 
         
(7)     Press the <C> key to change the prompt definition shown (blank). 
 
(8)     Enter the Prompt Field definition as follows: 
        <RETURN>  {Prompt field number is not required.} 
        <space> <4> <RETURN>  {Sets row location.} 
        <space> <0> <RETURN>  {Sets column location.} 
        <N> <A> <M> <E> <space> <:> <ENTER>  {Inputs prompt text and returns to
        edit option prompt line.} 
 
(9)     Press the <A> key to add the prompt field to the current screen
        definition file.  The prompt will be displayed at the row and column 
        location defined. 
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
         
(10)    Enter the rest of the prompt field definitions.  Press the <C>
        key to change the information as before and then the <ERASE INPUT> and 
        <RETURN> keys; enter the location and text as follows: 
 
                           Row  Column     Prompt 
                            5      0      GREETING: 
                            6      0      COMPANY : 
                            7      0      ADDRESS : 
                            8      0      CITY : 
                            8     22      STATE : 
                            8     34      ZIP : 
                           10      0      ITEM OF INTEREST : 
 
(11)    Press the <F> key to display the Data Field definition input
        mask on the lower half of the screen.  The upper half of the console
        screen should still show the prompts and data field previously defined. 
 
(12)    Enter the rest of the data field descriptions.  Press the <C> key to 
        change the information as before and then the <ERASE INPUT> key; enter 
        the information as follows: 
         
                ID Name      Just.     Row/Col.  A/L/N/S   Length  
                   LAST        L       4 / 26     L          15 
                   GREET       L       5 / 10     L          20
                   CONAME      L       6 / 10     S          15 
                   ADDR        L       7 / 10     S          20 
                   CITY        L       8 / 10     L          10 
                   STATE       N       8 / 30     L           2 
                   ZIP         R       8 / 39     N           7 
                   ITEM        L      10 / 15     S          15 
                                        
                                        
(13)    To change the default in GREETING to contain the value of "FIRST: " 
        <C>  {Puts the cursor on the first data field definition input field.} 
        <ERASE INPUT>  {Clears input mask.} 
        <G> <R> <E> <E> <T>  <ENTER>  {Identifies field and returns to edit
        option prompt line.} 
        <E>  {Examines data field.  The lower half of the console screen should
        now show the definition of the GREET field.} 
        <D>  {Deletes the field from the screen file.} 
        <C>  {Puts the cursor on the first Data Field definition input field.} 
        <RETURN> <RETURN>  
        <RETURN>  {Moves cursor to default/calculation input field.} 
        <[> <F> <I> <R> <S> <T> <]>  <ENTER>  {Sets the default to the value of
        FIRST.} 
        <A>  {Adds the new field definiton back into the current screen file.} 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
(14)    To change the "NAME :" prompt: 
        <P>  {Displays the Prompt Field definition input mask.} 
        Press the <N> and/or <B> keys until the "NAME :" prompt definition is
        displayed. 
        <D>  {deletes the prompt from the current screen definition file.} 
        <C>  {Puts the cursor on the first input field in the Prompt Field
        definition input mask.} 
        <RETURN> <RETURN> 
        <RETURN>  {Moves the cursor to the prompt text input field.} 
        Insert four (4) blanks just before the colon using the <right arrow> to
        position the cursor and the <INS CHAR> key to insert the blanks. 
        <ENTER>  {Returns to the edit option prompt line.} 
        <A>  {Adds the new prompt back into the current screen file.} 
         
(15)    The console screen should now look like this: 
 
 
 
        NAME      : _______  ___________
        GREETING  : _______________
        COMPANY   : ___________
        ADDRESS   : ______________
        CITY      : _______  STATE :___ ZIP : _______

        ITEM OF INTEREST : ________________


                              DEFINE PROMPT FIELD
                              - - - - - - - - - -

        Prompt Number  :_1
        Row Number     :_4
        Column Number  :_0
        Prompt : NAME__:_______________


        Upper Field  Add    Back  Examine Test
        Lower Prompt Delete Next  Change  Quit: A

 
(16)    Pressing the <F> key will cause the console screen to
        look like this: 
         
         
         
        NAME      : ______  ___________
        GREETING  : ______________
        COMPANY   : ___________
        ADDRESS   : ______________
        CITY      : _______  STATE :___ ZIP : _______

        ITEM OF INTEREST : _________________


