You can enter data using any of the terminals listed in appendix
G. Refer to the appropriate terminal reference manual for complete
instructions on terminal use.
Function Keys |
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ENTRY assigns special functions to the terminal function keys
during data entry and subsequent data modification. These keys have
slightly different functions depending on whether you are entering
new data into the system, or are reviewing or modifying existing data.
The keys are illustrated in this table, followed by their function
for each mode.
Table 2-1 Function Keys for Entry
Key | Key Action Data Collection Mode | Key | Key Action Browse/Modify Mode |
---|
HEAD FORM f1 | Display first form in sequence of forms. | FIRST REC f1 | Display first record in batch file on
form used to enter data. |
f2 | Not used; an error message appears if
pressed accidentally. | DELETE REC f2 | Delete current batch record from the
batch file. Note that you cannot insert a record in place of a deleted record;
any new records are added to the end of the batch file. |
PRINT f3 | Print current form on line printer. Prints
form with current data (all values typed in fields and recorded by
pressing Enter). | PRINT f3 | Same as in Data Collection. |
REFRESH f4 | Clear screen, initialize terminal, and
redisplay with initial values. On terminals with local form storage, clear
form storage memory and reinitialize form storage directory. Also
used to recover from "Unexpected Program Interruption," as described
later in this chapter. | REFRESH f4 | Same as in Data Collection, except that
previously entered data is displayed. |
f5 | Not used; an error message appears if
pressed accidentally. | PREV REC f5 | Display previous record in batch file
on form used to enter data. |
NEXT FORM f6 | Interrupt display of repeating form, and
display next form. | NEXT REC f6 | Display next record in batch file on
form used to enter data. |
BROWSE f7 | Enter browse/modify mode. The previous
form is displayed with entered data; the window line is updated
to show BROWSE. | COLLECT f7 | Return to Data Collection mode; the window
line is updated to show COLLECT. |
EXIT f8 | Exit from ENTRY; return to MPE control. | EXIT f8 | Same as in Data Collection. |
Function key labels for a form can be defined with FORMSPEC
as described in chapter 3. The labels you define with FORMSPEC are
displayed in place of the ENTRY labels; however, changing a label
also affects the action associated with the key.
Display Enhancements |
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The terminals used for data entry provide display enhancements
to highlight portions of the forms display. These enhancements are
defined during forms design and vary depending on how the form is
defined. The enhancements may highlight both input and display-only
fields. An alternate enhancement may be defined to indicate fields
in which errors are detected. The data capture devices do not support
display enhancements.
If not specifically changed by the forms designer, all unprotected
fields are shown in half-bright inverse video. If a field contains
an error, it is normally highlighted using full-bright inverse video,
and is underlined. (Note that the particular way a field in error
is enhanced depends on choices made by the forms designer. In general,
enhancements enable you to easily distinguish fields where data
can be entered and to locate fields where data has been entered
incorrectly.
Depending on the design, fields also may be delimited by brackets
to indicate the exact location of the field within the form.
Printing Forms and Data |
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To print any form, simply press PRINT. In Collect mode, the current form with any initial data
is printed on the line printer. Unless a specific initial value
has been assigned to a particular field by the forms designer, all
fields in the form are blank initially. In Browse/Modify mode, the
form is printed with the data previously collected to the current record.
Ordinarily, the printed form contains the data that appears
on the screen. However, if you key in data on the form and press PRINT before you press Enter, the new data is not printed. In Collect mode, only initial
data displayed with the form is printed. In Browse/Modify mode,
any data already recorded on a batch record is printed.