ENTER

(with no options at all) allows the values for every field of a record to be entered on one line.  The values are entered in the same order in which the fields appear in the Schema Definition (SD), separated by the value in @DELIM (comma by default) and terminated by a carriage return.  If a carriage return is typed before values have been entered for all fields, ACCENT R prompts for the next value by displaying the field name and a space.  If a field is to be left blank, enter only a comma.

When a field has multiple occurrences (an array) and some values (but not all) are to be entered, type the value in @END_OCCURS (* by default) after the last value to signify that the rest of the occurrences are to be left blank.  ACCENT R prompts for each record with a double colon (::).  If too many values have been entered, ACCENT R displays an error message.  The values  can then be re-entered for all the fields of the record, or invoke the SLIM editor by typing <ESC>, to edit the line just entered.

NEW

removes all records from the current DS.  The default, if NEW is not expressed, is to append new records to any already in the current DS.  NEW can be used with all other clauses of the ENTER command.

WITH[&]PROMPTS

causes ACCENT R to prompt for the data for each field.  If PROMPTS is used, ACCENT R prompts with the field name.  If &PROMPTS is used, ACCENT R prompts with the field title for any field that has a title; otherwise, the name is used.

When the DS has an array of fields, ACCENT R follows the field name or title with the subscript number(s) of the occurrence in parentheses.  If values are not to be entered for each occurrence, enter values for as many as desired, then signal that the rest of the occurrences are to be left blank by typing the value in @END_OCCURS (* by default).

WITH [&]PROMPTS can be used with the following other ENTER clauses; NEW, FIELDS \\names\\, DUP/LICATE/, CHECK, SET, and VIA pm_name.

FIELDS THRU NAME

allows the creation of new records by entering values for only some of the fields listed in the SD.  Before starting a new record, ACCENT R clears the record build area to all blanks if the DS is ASCII or all null if the DS is binary.

FIELDS THRU NAME tells ACCENT R that the user will supply both fieldname and value for each field.  ACCENT R then prompts with double colons (::) at the beginning of each new record.  Enter all fieldnames and values for a given record on one line, or enter each on a separate line.  The fieldname is separated from its value with a space.  In either case, input must be terminated for a given record, by entering the value in @END_RECORD.  (** by default).  The forms are:

::fieldname value

::fieldname value

::**

::fieldname value

…

::**

or

::fieldname value, fieldname value, fieldname value,…,**

To end the input session, type the value in @END_INPUT *** by default.

If the field has multiple occurrences, the field name must be identified with its subscript numbers in parentheses, separated by commas; i.e., fieldname (m, n, o).

FIELDS THRU NAME can be used with the following other ENTER clauses; NEW, WITH [&]PROMPTS, DUP/LICATE/, CHECK, SET, and VIA pm_name.

FIELDS \\names\\

specifies the list of fields for which data will be supplied.  If WITH [&]PROMPTS is not specified, ACCENT R then prompts with double colons (::).  Enter values for the specified fields, separating them with commas.  All field values for a given record can be entered on one line.  If a carriage return is typed before all the specified fields are entered, ACCENT R prompts for the next field by displaying its name.  If WITH [&]PROMPTS is specified, ACCENT R prompts for each field value with the field name or title, and each value entered must be followed by a carriage return.  Only a carriage return is recognized as the field delimiter using the WITH PROMPTS options allows commas to be entered into character fields.

For records with multiple record types, the record key field does not have to be included in the field list in the command, but during entry of field values, ACCENT R will expect the first value entered for each record to be the value for the record key field.

FIELDS \\names\\ can be used with all other ENTER clauses except FIELDS THRU NAME and VIA pm_name ONLY.

DUP/LICATE/

enables the value last entered for a given field of the previous record to be duplicated and entered in the same field of the record currently being created.  Instead of entering the value again, type the value in @DUPLICATE (= by default), and ACCENT R automatically enters the value from the previous record.  The DUPLICATE feature can also be invoked with the ENABLE DUPLICATE command.

DUPLICATE can be used with all other ENTER clauses except VIA pm_name ONLY.

CHECK;/NO CHECK/

allows the choice whether or not to enter the new records after all expected values have been entered.  NO CHECK is the default.  If CHECK is specified, ACCENT R performs a confirmation check for each record.  ACCENT R prompts with OK?, and expects one of the following responses:

?  -  causes a brief explanation of the possible responses to be displayed at the terminal.

Y <CR>  -  causes ACCENT R to accept the new record and prompt for the next.

T, S or E  -  causes the new record to be accepted and terminates the command.

N  -  cancels the entered record and prompts for a new record.

M  -  holds current entry and allows additional fields to be entered.

After entering M, further data entry must be in the format of the FIELDS THRU NAME option and must be terminated with the value in @END_RECORD (** by default).  ACCENT R again prompts for confirmation.  This response overrides the FIELDS \\fields\\ option and makes it possible to enter data for any field.

CHECK can be used with all other ENTER clauses except FROM sf_name.

SET clause

described in detail in Chapter 7.

SET can be used with all other ENTER clauses except FROM sf_name and VIA pm_name ONLY.

FROM sf_name.ext

takes the data for new records from a previously created System File (SF).  The SF must contain the data in the format in which it would be entered at the terminal without prompts or with the FIELDS \\names\\ option; i.e., all field values for a given record must be on the same logical line, separated by the value in @DELIM (comma by default).  Each record must be terminated with a carriage return.  The file can contain the values for @END_OCCURS, @END_RECORD, @END_INPUT, and @DUPLICATE.  If the value for @DUPLICATE is present in the System File, the clause DUPLICATE must be included in the command.  The data in the system file can be created with an editor or by a program.`

TEST

screens all data in a SF for errors, but does not enter it into the DS.  Errors can then be corrected before entering the data to the DS.  This option is particularly useful if the sequence of the data is to be maintained.

ERRORS TO sf_name [ONLY]

checks the data, enters all valid records into the DS, writes invalid records to the specified System File preceded by an error message, and displays error messages for any invalid records at the terminal.  The option O122222NLY writes error messages to the output file but suppresses them at the terminal.  The error file has the default extension .ERR if one is not supplied.

FROM sf_name can be used with the following other ENTER clauses:

NEW, FIELDS \\names\\, DUP/LICATE/, and VIA pm_name.

VIA clause

declares a Process Module (PM) for data manipulation or validation.  With this form of the VIA clause, normal prompting occurs, and all other ENTER clauses are allowed.

VIA clause [ONLY]

suspends normal field prompting, and does not allow WITH [&]PROMPTS, FIELDS THRU NAME or FIELDS \\names\\.  Therefore, all new records must be entered through ACCEPT statements in the PM.  However, this option can be combined with the CHECK clause.