You enter data into each form in much the same way as you enter data into any data entry form, however the function keys are used slightly differently. Their functions are outlined in the following table:
Key - Function
<F1> - GOLD
<F2> - PREVIOUS
<F3> - NEXT
<F4> - UPDATE
<F5> - STORE
<F6> - ADD
<F7> - SWITCH
<F8> - EXIT
The GOLD key <F1> followed by another key performs the following additional functions:
Key - Function
D - DELETE
H - HELP
R - REFRESH screen
X - CANCEL
4 - CLEAR form
For example, to obtain help information you would press:
<F1>
followed by
H
When the key for a GOLD function is a letter, either upper or lower case letters may be used. you may type either upper or lower case letters. For example, the previous command could have also been entered:
<F1>
followed by
h
On a repeating form, the PREVIOUS function displays the image of a previous form. When a form repeats (as the Field Description form does), the contents of each form (a field’s description on the Field Description form) are displayed one at a time. The PREVIOUS function steps backwards through these form displays ‘wrapping around’ to the last one after the first one is reached.
The NEXT function works like the PREVIOUS function except that the direction of movement is forward. After the last form display is reached, the NEXT function ‘wraps around’ to the first one.
The UPDATE function makes changes to a form. A form must contain data before the UPDATE function is allowed. After the changes have been made, the STORE function saves the changes. If the UPDATE function is used while the form is in UPDATE mode, the original contents of the form are redisplayed. If the CANCEL function is used while in UPDATE mode, the original contents of the form are restored and the UPDATE function is canceled.
The ADD function adds new information to the definition. The current form must be either an empty or repeating form. After the new information has been entered, the STORE function records the contents of the current form. When adding to a repeating form, the contents of the current form are stored in sequence after that of the previous form. If the CANCEL function is used while in ADD mode, the current form is cleared and the ADD function is canceled.
The SWITCH function switches to the next form in sequence. If the new form contains data, it is displayed within the new form. When a form is a repeating form, the contents of the first occurrence of the form are displayed. If you use the SWITCH function when the Secondary Key Field Names form (i.e., the last form) is displayed, the screen is cleared and the File Definition form (i.e., the first form) is redisplayed.
The DELETE function removes information displayed on a form pertaining to a file definition. (Note: This is a vastly different function than that performed by simply pressing the Del key which will vary depending on your system.) The current form must contain data before the DELETE function can be used. After the information has been deleted, the form is cleared. The DELETE function is not allowed while in UPDATE or ADD modes.
The EXIT function writes the information to a definition file and returns to the Data Files Menu in toolkit.
The HELP function displays at any time information on the screen about creating or modifying RMSfiles.
The REFRESH function ‘repaints’ the screen should portions of it be overwritten by system messages or other extraneous displays.
The CLEAR function may be used while in UPDATE or ADD mode to clear the current form.
In addition to the above functions, certain keys perform additional functions.
The RETURN or Newline key selects the default value for an empty field and moves the cursor to the beginning of the next field.
If a field on a form is empty, pressing the Line Feed key copies the value displayed in the same field of the last deleted or stored form into the field of the form which is currently displayed. The previous value must be from a deleted or stored form, however.
The Tab key moves the cursor to the beginning of the next field.
The Back Space key erases the character to the left of the cursor in the current field. If the cursor is at the beginning of a field, the Back Space key has no effect.
With the ESC key, the entire contents of the field that the cursor is in are erased and the cursor is positioned at the beginning of the field.
The Up Arrow key moves the cursor to the beginning of the previous field. If the cursor is not at the beginning of the current field, the Up Arrow key moves the cursor to the beginning of the current field.
The Down Arrow key moves the cursor to the beginning of the next field.
The Left Arrow key moves the cursor one position to the left. If the cursor is at the beginning of a field, the Left Arrow key moves the cursor to the end of the previous field.
The Right Arrow key moves the cursor right one position. If the cursor is at the end of a field, the Right Arrow key moves the cursor to the beginning of the next field.
When any other key is pressed, the character it represents is entered in the field.
The methods for entering data are the same for each of the forms in selection D1- Create File Definition of the Data Files Menu.