HP 3000 Manuals

HP Data Entry and Forms Management System (VPLUS/V)

FORMS SEQUENCE 

The first form displayed on the screen after the forms and batch files
have been specified is known as the HEAD form.  Depending on the forms
file definition, this form may be a "menu" type form on which you can
select the particular form on which you want to enter data.  If it is
such a "menu" form, the data you enter determines which form is displayed
next.

The next form displayed after the HEAD form also depends on the
definition of the forms file; it is usually a data form on which you
enter data in unprotected fields.  All such data is stored in the batch
file when you press ENTER. At that time, ENTRY automatically displays the
next form in the sequence of forms in the forms file.  This process
continues until all the forms in the sequence have been displayed, or you
press EXIT.

Repeating Forms 

The next form is not always a different form.  For instance, a form used
for order entry may be repeated over and over as you enter different data
into the form.  Each time you press ENTER to enter data for such a form,
the next form displayed is identical to the preceding form except that
the unprotected fields are clear or contain initial values.

You interrupt a repeating form in order to display the next form by
pressing NEXT FORM. In this case, the form that immediately follows the
repeating form is displayed.  If you know that the next form is the first
form (the "head" form), you can also display this form by pressing HEAD 
FORM.

Appended forms 

Forms may also be designed so that the next form is appended to the
current form.  An appended form is displayed immediately below the
current form on the screen.  When you type data into the current form and
then press ENTER, the data in the current form is written to the batch
file as usual, but the form and its data remain on the screen with the
next form displayed below it.  Note that an appended form may also be a
repeating form, or it may be different from the preceding form.

You may then enter data in the appended form, but not in the previous
form.  Although the previous form remains on the screen, all its fields
are now protected.

Frozen Forms 

A form may be designated as "frozen".  Such a form remains on the screen
when subsequent forms are displayed.  The next form after a frozen form
is always appended to the frozen form.  As data is entered into the next
form (or forms), at some point, depending on the form size, there will be
no more room on the screen.  At this point, the top appended form is
rolled off the screen leaving the frozen form at the top of the screen.
Forms rolled off the screen cannot be rolled back down for review.  Data
in the frozen form can be changed only by entering the browse/modify mode
with BROWSE.

Figure 2-2 illustrates a possible sequence of forms, including a
repeating appended form that follows a frozen form.

HEAD FORM (frozen), press ENTER to append:  NEXT FORM

NEXT FORM is then repeated/appended each time ENTER is pressed.


Press NEXT FORM to stop repeat, clear screen, and display:  NEXT FORM


Press ENTER to return to HEAD FORM.


          Figure 2-2.  Example of Forms Sequence. 

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation