Step 7: Edit variable fields

Defining a Screen Display Using MAPC › Instructions › Step 7: Edit variable fields

Step 7: Edit variable fields

In this step, you will edit a variable field's definition to determine what characteristics the field will have at runtime. You access the Field Definition screen from the Layout screen by pressing [PF5] after you have selected fields from the screen, or by pressing [PF5] from another definition screen (either Field or Literal Definition).

There are seven pages of data field screens. Navigate through these pages using [PF7] or [PF8], or move directly to the desired page by overtyping the page number.

Sample Field Definition Screen - page 1

Field Definition Page 1 of 7 Map name: XXXMAP Version: 1 ...5...10...15...20...25...30...35...40...45...50...55...60...65...70...75...80 ;FUNCTION: ;________* ...5...10...15...20...25...30...35...40...45...50...55...60...65...70...75...80 Field at row 1 column 1 Drop field (/) _ Element name: AGR-CURRENT-FUNCTION Subscript In record ADSO-APPLICATION-GLOBAL-RECORD Version 1 Edit Picture X(8) Display intensity 2 1. Normal 2. Bright 3. Hidden At end of field 1 1. Auto-tab 2. Lock keyboard 3. Take no action Unprotected (/) . . . . . / Required (/). . . . . . _ Automatically edited (/) / Skipped by tab key (/) _ DC366004 Specify the variable field and any attributes F1=Help F3=Exit F4=Prev F5=Next F6=Preview F8=Fwd

Notice that the Field Definition screen shows the field to be defined plus two scales to help you position the field.

You use the Field Definition screen to edit one map field at a time. After you edit a field (using [PF8] if you need to go to further pages), press [PF5]. MAPC displays either the Field Definition screen or the Literal Definition screen for the next field that you've selected. When you've edited all selected fields, MAPC returns you to the Main Menu screen.

Note: Pressing [Enter] on any screen causes it to redisplay so that you can make changes if you want.

Prompts

In this step, you use the following prompts on page 1 of the Field Definition screen:

Element name—Name of a record element or special system field to be displayed and input in the variable map field.
When you autopainted the map, you selected the record elements you wanted displayed in the variable fields on that map (such as the department-name record element for the variable map field that follows the literal FUNCTION field). These element names are displayed on the Field Definition screen. At runtime, that variable map field displays and allows users to input department names.

If you were to create a map manually, you would have to specify the element names on this screen at this time.

For further information, see CA IDMS Mapping Facility Guide.

A special system field is a field that has a reserved use in a CA ADS application.

For example, $MESSAGE is a special system field that contains messages (such as error messages) at runtime. A variable field associated with $MESSAGE can display those messages to the user.
Edit Picture—If you autopaint this map, the length of the field (as defined in the dictionary) will be displayed here. If you create this map manually, the length of the field (as defined in the dictionary) will be displayed here after you press [Enter].
You can create an external picture used for display by entering a different value in Edit picture. For example, you might want to change 9(4).99 to $9(4).99 for a monetary value for display purposes.
Display intensity—You can specify the runtime display intensity for the variable map field.
The default, 1 (Normal), causes the field to be displayed at normal intensity. You specify 2 (Bright) to make a field display at bright intensity or 3 (Hidden) to make a field invisible to the user.
At end of field—You can specify whether the user is restricted from typing beyond the end of the variable map field.
The default, 1 (Auto-tab), specifies that the field is explicitly delimited. In this case, the user cannot type beyond the end of the field. The cursor will skip to the next unprotected field when the user fills the current field with characters.

2 (Lock keyboard) causes the keyboard to lock when the user attempts to enter data beyond the end of the field.

3 (Take no action) specifies that the field is not explicitly delimited. In this case, the user can type beyond the end of the field (although excess characters are truncated on input).
Unprotected (/)—You can specify whether the user can enter data into the variable map field. Spacing over the slash (/) indicates that the map field is protected and restricts the user from changing the contents of the field.
Required (/)—You can specify whether the user must enter data into the variable map field. Entering a nonblank character indicates that data must be entered into the field before the map data will be processed.
Automatically edited (/)—You can enable the automatic data editing feature of CA ADS.
For map XXXMAP, you will enable this feature for numeric fields (such as the field that displays department numbers) to make them readable.
Skipped by tab key (/)—You can specify that that tab key will not stop on this map field.

For more information on using Field Definition screen prompts, see the CA IDMS Mapping Facility Guide.

XXXMAP Field Specifications

The following table summarizes the specifications that you will make when you edit map fields in this step. You will edit each field definition as indicated in this table.

Location of field on map	Purpose of field	Specifications for field
After FUNCTION literal field (in the upper left corner)	Displays the name of the application function being executed at runtime	Protected Bright display
DEPARTMENT INFORMATION literal field	Displays the title for the screen	Bright display
After DEPARTMENT ID literal field	Displays a department's unique ID number	Auto-tab Automatically edited
After NAME literal field	Displays a department's name	Auto-tab Pad character - space1
After HEAD ID literal field	Displays the ID number for the head of the department	Auto-tab Automatically edited
Last field on the map (on the bottom right side)	Displays runtime messages to the use	Element name: AGR- MESSAGE Length: 80 bytes 1 The pad character is defined on page 2 of the Field Definition screen.

Modifying XXXMAP

Modify the variable field shown on the Field Definition screen (AGR-CURRENT-FUNCTION).

Note: The FUNCTION literal field will not be available for modification because you did not select it on the Layout screen.

Notice that:

The record element (AGR-CURRENT-FUNCTION) is already displayed for the element name.
The position of the variable field is shown.
The edit picture shows the actual length of the function variable field.
Several defaults are indicated.

To enter the field specifications shown in the preceding table, enter 2 following the Display intensity prompt to indicate bright. Space over the slash following Unprotected to make this a protected field.

Field Definition Page 1 of 7 Map name: XXXMAP Version: 1 ...5...10...15...20...25...30...35...40...45...50...55...60...65...70...75...80 ;FUNCTION: ;________ ...5...10...15...20...25...30...35...40...45...50...55...60...65...70...75...80 Field at row 1 column 1 Drop field (/) _ Element name: AGR-CURRENT-FUNCTION Subscript In record ADSO-APPLICATION-GLOBAL-RECORD Version 1 Edit Picture X(8) Display intensity 2 1. Normal 2. Bright 3. Hidden At end of field 1 1. Auto-tab 2. Lock keyboard 3. Take no action Unprotected (/) . . . . . Required (/). . . . . . _ Automatically edited (/) / Skipped by tab key (/) _ DC366004 Specify the variable field and any attributes F1=Help F3=Exit F4=Prev F5=Next F6=Preview F8=Fwd

After you press [Enter], MAPC redisplays the Field Definition screen with a message:

Map options processed successfully is returned when the definition contains no errors.
An error message is returned when MAPC detects an error in your definition. In this case, read the message to determine the problem. You can type over any errors and press [Enter] again.

When the current field definition is correct, press [PF5] to see the next definition to be enhanced.