Set Exit States

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Set Exit States

For data and activity control to flow between procedure steps, a condition called an exit state must be met. An exit state is the trigger that causes transfer of control. Exit State is the name of a CA Gen special attribute that links the Action Diagram and the Dialog Design Diagram. You can add, change, or delete exit states. For example, if a transaction code must be validated before another procedure can occur, you can add an exit state called INVALID_CODE if the code does not exist. You can set global exit states (exit states that apply across the model) or local exit states that apply only to the current business system.

You can set the termination action of an exit state-the action to be taken when the exit state occurs. The following table describes the types of termination actions.

Termination Action	What System Does When Exit State Occurs
Normal	Displays the message associated with the exit state only.
Rollback	Backs out the database update, displays a message associated with the exit state, and invokes the flow of control.
Abort	Aborts processing and executes a system dump.

In specifying the properties of an exit state, you can add, change, or delete a message that is associated with the exit state and displayed when flow does not occur. You can also assign the type of message.

Each type of message displays with unique properties. The following table shows the message types you can assign, what each message describes and how it appears on different types of monitors.

Message Type	Appearance on Color Monitors	Appearance on Monochrome Monitors	Description
None	Normal color (the color of fields on the screens)	Normal	Message type has not been defined. This option allows compatibility with messages created in earlier releases.
Informational	White	High Intensity	Message gives information only; no action is required.
Warning	Yellow	High Intensity	Message advises that user action may be required as a result of processing.
Error	Red	Highlighted	Message advises that an error occurred in an entry and action is required to correct.

You can define and assign these messages when defining system defaults, when diagramming dialog flows, or when defining action diagrams. For example, you can add the message CODE IS INVALID and associate it with the exit state INVALID_CODE. The message would display when the logic of the action diagram causes the exit state to occur.