HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Chapter 8 ADDITIONAL SOFTWARE PRODUCTS HP ALLBASE/4GL B.05 Enhancements by John T. Lee Software Technology Division PRODUCT OVERVIEW Release B.05 of HP ALLBASE/4GL is now available with release 4.0 of MPE/iX. This article discusses the changes to HP ALLBASE/4GL since the B.03.22 release and any important information you need to know about the B.05 release. HP ALLBASE/4GL is a highly productive fourth generation language that enables developers to create sophisticated applications that are user-friendly. Developers can use HP ALLBASE/4GL to create applications that manage and store data in KSAM files, serial files, HP ALLBASE/SQL tables, and HP TurboIMAGE/iX data sets. HP ALLBASE/4GL includes a Dictionary, Module Builder, Screen Painter, Logic Facility, Report Writer, and Administration facility. These features are controlled by using screen forms, menu items, and function keys. They are easy-to-use and automate many conventional tasks. The Dictionary and Module Builder provide good examples of how facilities in HP ALLBASE/4GL are productive and easy-to-use. The dictionary in HP ALLBASE/4GL stores all application elements such as field descriptions, screen messages, and record layouts in a central location. Any changes made to dictionary definitions are propagated throughout the application's screens and logic at the press of a key. The Module Builder can automatically create a module using the definitions of HP TurboIMAGE/iX data sets, HP ALLBASE/SQL tables, and files. A module includes a data entry screen and the logic necessary to add, delete, modify, and view records in a file, HP TurboIMAGE/iX data set, or HP ALLBASE/SQL table. To create a program with the same functionality using a third generation language would take hours, possibly days. With the Module Builder, the developer simply enters the name of the existing table and presses a function key. Using the Screen Painter, Logic Facility, and Report Writer, developers can extend modules to create applications as complex as necessary to satisfy your needs. However, even the most complex application are easy to use because HP ALLBASE/4GL supports the creation of menu items, context-sensitive help screens, and function keys. PRODUCT ENHANCEMENTS The following enhancements are included in this version of HP ALLBASE/4GL. New Communication Area Fields * LTRACE This is a numeric field used for turning on and off trace mode. mhen the field is set to a non-zero value, HP ALLBASE/4GL activates the trace mode facility. When the field is set to zero, the trace facility is turned off. The same rules apply for trace mode as for using the -i option when invoking HP ALLBASE/4GL. For example, runtime systems cannot be traced. *MSGDELAY This is a numeric field for changing the number of seconds HP ALLBASE/4GL waits after a message is displayed before the process continues. Any positive integer can be moved into this field to signify the number of seconds to wait. The default for this field is three seconds. Moving a value of zero into this field causes HP ALLBASE/4GL to display the message and continue processing immediately. Increased Logic Block Limits The maximum number of lines in a logic block has been increased from 30 to 99. This allows processes and functions to contain up to 99 logic statements and reduces the need for a lot of VISIT commands. The limit for SQL logic blocks is still 8 lines. MIGRATION STRATEGY HP ALLBASE/4GL B.05 supports HP ALLBASE/SQL version F.0 included in this MPE/iX release. If any of your applications use HP ALLBASE/SQL, the databases need to be migrated using SQLMIG and the Stored Sections need to be revalidated using the new ISQL command VALIDATE. Refer to the HP ALLBASE/SQL installation instructions documented in the HP 3000 MPE/iX Installation, Update, and Add-On Manual (36126-90001) for details on migration and validation. Also refer to the article "ALLBASE/SQL Enhancements" in this Communicator for more details on HP ALLBASE/SQL version F.0. If you are using the HP ALLBASE/4GL Developer system, you need to save your applications and system definitions using the HP4STOA utility before you upgrade to the new version of HP ALLBASE/4GL. If you are using HP ALLBASE/4GL in a Run-Time environment, you need to reload your applications from the tape or files supplied by your application's supplier after you upgrade your system.