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Function Key Assignment Standards

Function keys (also referred to as “Product Function keys,” and “PF keys”) are available on many types of video display terminals.

You can use function keys to provide a shorthand way for users to communicate commands to procedures in a variety of online and graphical environments. For example, you could specify that pressing F10 will have the same effect as entering the ADD command.

If a function key represents a particular command, it should represent that same command in all procedures that use it. For example, if F1 invokes the CHANGE command in one procedure and F10 invokes it in another, this will result in user confusion and error.

You can define function keys as standard or default:

• Standard—You cannot override a standard function key. For example, no matter what procedure is being executed, F1 means Help.
• Default—You can override a default function key. For example, procedures that support a Display command will all use F4 for display, but a procedure with no Display capability can use F4 to represent some other command.

CA Gen supports the maintenance of both standard and default function keys across the system.

More information:

Designing the Procedure Interaction