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Options
GEN (Generate) Create an ARB from scratch, containing a field for each
field on the form. The sequence of the fields accords
with their sequence on the form, and can be altered
using the Restructure ARB Menu Figure 3-25c. The type
and length of the fields are determined by comparing the
screen attributes with the data conversion record. They
can be changed using the ARB Field Menu.
This option is only valid if no ARB exists for the form.
RES Display the current ARB, showing the sequence of fields.
(Restructure) Allows the designer to add, delete, move and rename
fields using the Restructure ARB Menu.
MOD (Modify) Modify the length and data type of the designated field
in the ARB, using the Arb Field Menu.
DEL (Delete) Delete the entire ARB. If you want to make a lot of
changes to the fields on a form, it is usually better to
delete the existing ARB and generate a new one once the
form has been altered. If you copy or delete a form,
the corresponding ARB will be copied or deleted as well.
Table 3-9 shows how an alteration made to the form will affect the ARB,
if at all.
Table 3-9. Form/ARB Relationships
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| | |
| Form | ARB |
| | |
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| | |
| Adding a form... | Does not add an associated ARB. |
| | |
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| | |
| Copy a form... | Copies the associated ARB. |
| | |
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| | |
| Renaming a form... | Renames the associated ARB. |
| | |
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| | |
| Deleting a form... | Deletes the associated ARB. |
| | |
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| | |
| Changing a form: | Does not add it to the ARB once the ARB has |
| | been created, unless you create a new ARB. |
| - adding a field... | |
| | |
| |
| | |
| - changing a field... | Changes the screen length and screen data |
| | type on the ARB, but does not affect the |
| | ARB field length and data type. |
| | |
| |
| | |
| - deleting a field... | Changes the corresponding ARB field to a |
| | "filler" field. |
| | |
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| | |
| No effect on form... | Add, change delete ARB or the fields in it. |
| | |
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| | |
| Form can exist without an ARB. | ARB cannot exist without a form. |
| | |
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The Effect of Renaming a Field on a Form
There are three possibilities, which are described below.
* The old name is in the ARB but the new name is not: The ARB field is
renamed to the new name, retaining its "live" field type, and the
screen length and screen type are altered if necessary.
* The old name is not in the ARB, but the new name is, as a "filler"
field: The ARB field changes from "filler" to "live" field type, and
the screen length and screen data type are updated if necessary.
* Both old and new names exist in the ARB: The old name changes from
"live" to "filler" type, and the screen length and screen data type
change to zero and blanks respectively. The new name changes from
"filler" to "live" field type, and the screen length and screen data
type are updated.
NOTE FORMSPEC allows the designer to delete a field from a form after a
corresponding field has been added to the ARB. The field need not
be deleted from the ARB as well; at compile-time, the ARB field is
converted to a "filler" field, with screen length set to zero and
screen type blank. The designer can; however, choose to delete or
rename the ARB field.
It is possible, though usually not advisable, to create an ARB
without using the GENerate feature. To do this, type RES and use
the Restructure ARB Menu to add fields one at a time.
If your default conversion for any field(s) could cause run-time errors,
you will get a message to that effect (see Appendix B, VPLUS/V ERROR
MESSAGES). Go to the ARB Field Menu to check that the conversion does
make sense in this case, or to change the target data type if it doesn't.
3. Enter GEN in the Selection box and press ENTER to generate an ARB for this
form. The "No field(s) in ARB" changes to show a number equivalent to the
number of fields on the form.
4. You can now change the position of a field in the ARB, add or delete fields, or
modify a field by changing its length and/or data type.
5. To move, rename, add or delete fields, type RES in the Selection box and press
ENTER. The Restructure ARB menu is displayed.
![[]](../../pic3k/M000076/F0325E3c50.gif)
Figure 3-25e. Restructure ARB Menu
This menu displays all the fields in the ARB by name and in sequence.
The form name is displayed in the first field (display only). The lower
part of the screen shows the ARB fields. Use PREV PAGE and NEXT PAGE to
view them all if necessary.
6. Use the fields at the top of the screen to change the order by moving fields or
ranges. Press ENTER to execute all changes.