User’s Reference

This chapter contains detailed information about the menus, functions, and other topics that the user of a Process Module generated by DataPaint needs to know.

Organization of this section

Topics in this section are arranged by menus.  Each menu and function is explained, starting with the main menu.  An overview of the Process Module menus and functions appears on the next page.

Alphabetic index to Process Module Menus and functions

Figure 6-1 Overview of Process Module Menus and Functions

Main Menu

This is the menu that appears when you first start the Process Module.

The field "Mode" in the upper right-hand corner of the screen is used during multi step operations to help you keep track of what you are doing.

Enter Function

Select this function on the main menu to enter a new record in the MAIN Data Set.

The Enter function is only allowed if the "mode" of the MAIN Data Set was set to Update ("U") when the form was created.

1. Select the Enter function on the main menu.  The message "PF1 to Select Page, PF3 to Write Record, PF4 to Return" will appear at the top of the screen.

2. Enter the values for each field.  Press the Return key to move automatically to the next field, or use the arrow keys or the Tab key.  You can use the cursor arrow keys to go back and change fields in the record that you have already entered.

NOTE:  that only PF keys that will perform these functions are those on the keypad on the right-hand side of the keyboard.

3. After you are through entering the fields, press the PF3 key to write the record.  The record will be written to the Data Set.  The message "Record Written" will be displayed at the top of the screen and you will go back to the main menu.

If your form has multiple pages, press the PF1 key to display another page so that you can enter its data.

You can cancel your current operation and go back to the main menu by pressing the PF4 key.

Modify Function

Select this function on the main menu to change a record in the MAIN Data Set.  You must first retrieve the record to be modified with a Get function.

The Modify function is only allowed if the "mode" of the MAIN Data Set was set to Update ("U") when the form was created.

1. Get a record and return to the main menu.

2. Select the Modify function on the main menu.  The message "PF1 to Select Page, PF3 to Write Record, PF4 to Return" will appear at the top of the screen.

NOTE:  that only PF keys that will perform these functions are those on the keypad on the right-hand side of the keyboard.

3. Change the values for the fields as desired.

You can use the cursor arrow keys, the Return key, or the Tab key to move to the fields in the record that you want to change.

4. After you are through changing the fields, press the PF3 key to write the record.  The record will be written to the Data Set.  The message "Record Written" will be displayed at the top of the screen and you will go back to the main menu.

If your form has multiple pages, press the PF1 key to display another page so that you can change its data.

You can cancel your current operation and go back to the main menu by pressing the PF4 key.

Delete Function

Select this function on the main menu to delete a record in the MAIN Data Set.  You must first retrieve the record to be deleted with a Get function.

The Delete function is only allowed if the "mode" of the MAIN Data Set was set to Update ("U") when the form was created.

1. Get a record and return to the main menu.

2. Select the Delete function on the main menu.

You are asked if you really want to change the record:

• If you respond "Yes", the record will be deleted and you will go back to the main menu.

• If you respond "No", the record will not be deleted and you will go back to the main menu.

Get Menu

Select Get on the main menu to display this menu.

Get Next Function

Select this function on the Get menu to retrieve the next record.

If a previous Get Match function was performed, then the next record in the domain which matches the key value entered will be retrieved.

If a previous Get Match function was performed but was unsuccessful, then a "first high fit" will be performed.  This results in the retrieval of the next record that is beyond the record which would have contained the keys entered.

If you have reached the beginning of the Data Set, you get a message that says there are no more records in the Data Set.

Get Prior Function

Select this function on the Get menu to retrieve the prior record.

If a previous Get Match function was performed, then the prior record in the domain which matches the keys entered will be retrieved.

If a previous Get Match function was performed but was unsuccessful, then a "last low fit" will be performed.  This results in the retrieval of the prior record that is before the record which would have contained the keys entered.

If you have reached the end of the Data Set, you get a message that says there are no more records in the Data Set.

Get Match Function

Select this function on the Get menu to retrieve a record that matches the key value that you enter.

If the record with the key value is not found, you can then do a Get Next or Get Prior function to retrieve a record with a key value that is similar.  This is called a "fit".  If you perform a Get Next after a failed Get Match, the record with the closest higher key value is retrieved (high fit).  If you perform a Get Prior after a failed Get Match, the record with the closest lower key value is retrieved (low fit).

After a Get Match has been performed, the program stays in "match mode" for all subsequent Get operations (Next, Prior, First, Last).  When there are no more matches, all subsequent Get Next and Get Priors operate sequentially within the domain.

The Get Match function is only available if a Data Index or Index Definition was set up by the developer.  The Get Match function will not work for a Schema Definition or a Data Set.

How to "Fit" Key Values

This example uses the same Process Module as in the tutorial, but it finds a record based on the last name.  Assume that the records are in this order:

Vallo
Van Baren
Van Beek
Van Breen
Van Brocklin
Vasil

1. Perform a Get Match for the last name "Van Brink".  This name would come between Van Breen and Van Brocklin.

There is no record with that key value in the Data Set, so you get a message that says the matching record was not found.

2. Do a Get Next.  The record with a key value of "Van Brocklin" is retrieved.

3. Do a Get Prior.  The record with a key value of "Van Breen" is retrieved.

Get First Function

Select this function on the Get menu to retrieve the first record.

If a previous Get Match function was performed, then the first record of the domain which matches the key value entered will be retrieved.

Get Last Function

Select this function on the Get menu to retrieve the last record.

If a previous Get Match function was performed, then the last record of the domain which matches the key value entered will be retrieved.

Access Order Function

Select this function on the Get menu to specify the sequence in which you want to look at records.  The Access Order function lets you change the domain used to access the data index.

Select Page Function

Select this function on the main menu to display another page in the form.  The Select Page menu will appear.

All pages are numbered from 1 to 99.

If you are using a VT200 terminal (or compatible), you can use the NEXT SCREEN and PREV SCREEN function keys to select the next page and prior page respectively.

About Function

Select this function on the main menu to display the current page number and access order.