Runtime Considerations › Message Field Considerations

Message Field Considerations

Displaying Error Messages

A maximum of one message field can be defined on any given map; a message field can be of any length. When several data fields submit incorrect input, the message field displays as many error messages as possible, in order of occurrence (from top to bottom and left to right) of the incorrect data fields.

Messages in the Detail Area

A message field that is defined in the detail area of a pageable map is mapped out once in each occurrence of the detail occurrence in the detail area. Messages generated by the CA ADS DISPLAY MESSAGE statement are not displayed if the message field is defined in the detail occurrence for the map.

Message Sources

A message field displays messages generated from either of the following sources:

• The error-handling capability of the CA IDMS mapping facility
• The CA ADS dialog or application program that uses the map

If more than one error message is to be displayed in the message field, as many messages are displayed as will fit in the message field. A space character separates messages.

Default Error Message

If an error occurs in a field for which no message has been defined, the default error message is used. The message has the following format:

ERROR AT row,column

If a Message Field is not Defined

When a message is sent to a map for which no message field is defined, dialogs and application programs react as follows:

• A CA ADS dialog displays the message on the default CA ADS message screen (unless the error occurs in a pageable map session, in which case the message is ignored)
• A CA IDMS application program ignores the message; processing continues and the operator does not view the message