HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Appendix B GLOSSARY OF TERMS USED IN THIS GUIDE
appended form A form that is displayed on the terminal screen
immediately below another form.
arithmetic Any constants, field names, or save field names combined
expression by arithmetic operators and resulting in a numeric value
that can be used as an operand in a FORMSPEC processing
statement.
arithmetic Any of the symbols (+, -, *, / or %) used in an
operator arithmetic expression to indicate type of operation
combining constants, field names, or save field names.
batch file An MPE disc file used to collect data entered through
ENTRY.
batch record A record in a batch file; one record is written each
time ENTER is pressed to enter data in a form.
block mode Terminal mode in which ENTER (rather than RETURN) is
pressed to transfer data; allows multiple lines to be
typed before being transferred.
BROWSE f7 ENTRY function key used to go to Browse mode.
Physically, this is the same as COLLECT.
Browse mode ENTRY mode in which user can review and/or modify
records previously written to the batch file.
Browse/Modify See Browse mode.
mode
CHAR Data type indicating a character type field.
character type A field in a FORMSPEC form into which any characters may
field be entered.
COLLECT f7 ENTRY function key used to return to Collect mode from
Browse mode. Physically, this is the same as BROWSE.
Collect mode ENTRY mode in which user enters data through FORMSPEC
forms and writes the data to batch file records.
comment A descriptive comment entered by the FORMSPEC designer
on the Form Menu to describe the form, or in the
Processing Specifications area of the Field Menu to
describe a particular statement; a comment is listed
with the forms file, but does not appear at forms file
execution.
compile a forms Make the forms file ready for use; each time a forms
file file is changed it must be re-compiled so that the
changes are available to an application or to ENTRY.
conditional Type of FORMSPEC processing statement that is executed
processing only when a condition is true; conditional processing is
always introduced by an IF statement.
constant A literal value used in FORMSPEC processing statements;
character type constants are surrounded by quotes, data
type constants by exclamation points, numeric constants
do not use delimiters.
custom error A message associated with a particular field edit to be
message displayed in the window line of a form when a field
fails the edit; this message is issued only if the field
is in error and is the first field in screen order.
data Values entered through an application or ENTRY into
forms designed by FORMSPEC. ENTRY then writes the data
to the batch file.
data collection The process of entering data through ENTRY and writing
that data to batch file.
data formatting The reorganization of entered data according to
automatic formatting rules or as a result of formatting
statements.
data type Determines type of data that can be accepted in a field;
may be character type, a numeric type, or a data type.
data type field A field in a FORMSPEC form into which only a date may be
entered; specific date types are DMY, MDY, and YMD.
DELETE REC f2 ENTRY function key used to delete the currently
displayed record from the batch file.
delimiters Symbols used to mark the start and end of each field on
the screen for a FORMSPEC form; standard delimiters are
opening and closing brackets ([ and ]); non-printing
delimiters may be entered by using ESCAPE with brackets.
DIG Data type used to indicate a numeric type field into
which only digits (whole numbers) can be entered.
display-only A field in a FORMSPEC form that does not accept data
field entered by the user; data is moved to such fields as a
result of FORMSPEC processing or initialization.
DMY Data type used to indicate a data type field into which
the entered date must be in the order: Day Month Year.
edit The process of checking entered data according to field
type, data type or an edit statement associated with the
field.
edit statement One of a set of FORMSPEC processing statements that
tests entered data.
ENTER Key used to transfer data to a program executing in
block mode; used in ENTRY to transfer data to batch
file, in FORMSPEC to transfer the source version of the
forms file.
ENTRY Program that displays FORMSPEC forms on terminal screen
and accepts data entered by the user into these forms,
then writes data to batch file.
EXIT f8 FORMSPEC and ENTRY function key used to terminate
execution of either of these programs and return to MPE
control.
expression Combination of operators and operands that results in a
single value; in FORMSPEC processing, expressions are
always arithmetic.
fast forms file File to which forms file is compiled when it is ready
for use in a production environment; because record size
is compacted, file executes more quickly than regular
forms file; however, fast forms file cannot be modified.
field Area designated on FORMSPEC form to contain data
subsequently entered through an application or ENTRY.
FIELD Header in FORMSPEC processing specifications that
introduces statements to be executed in field edit
phase.
field edit See edit.
field edit Phase of FORMSPEC processing in which data entered in
phase each field is edited; normal mode of execution.
field length Length in number of characters of a FORMSPEC field;
field length is determined by placement of delimiters
during form layout.
Field Menu FORMSPEC menu in which designer specifies field
attributes of each field and/or enters processing
statements that control how data entered in field is
treated.
field name Name assigned to each field in a FORMSPEC form. The
name may be up to 15 uppercase characters. The first
character must be alphabetic; the other characters can
be alphabetic, digits, or the underline (_). Each field
name must be unique to the form of which it is a member.
field tag Name entered between field delimiters to identify field
during FORMSPEC form layout; tag may be upper or lower
case letters, digits 0-9, or underline, it is
subsequently shifted to all uppercase to form the
default field name.
FIELD TOGGLE FORMSPEC function key used to go to the Processing
f3 Specification area of a Field Menu in order to enter
processing statements.
field type Determines how data entered into field will be
processed--whether data is optional or required,
display-only, or to be processed even if blank.
file A collection of related records treated as a unit;
VPLUS/V files include the FORMSPEC forms file and the
ENTRY batch file.
finish phase Final phase of processing performed on a form after all
data entered into the form has been accepted.
FINISH Header that introduces statements to be executed during
finish phase of FORMSPEC processing.
FIRST REC f1 ENTRY function key used in Browse mode to display first
record in batch file.
form An ordered arrangement of text and fields for data
entry, saved in a forms file for subsequent display on a
terminal screen; form design is controlled by FORMSPEC,
entry of data through the form by an application or by
ENTRY.
form layout Physical arrangement of text and fields in a FORMSPEC
form showing how the form will appear when displayed at
the terminal.
Form Menu FORMSPEC menu through which forms designer specifies
characteristics of each form, such as form name and form
sequence.
form name Unique name assigned to each form in FORMSPEC forms
file; name may be 1-15 uppercase characters, A-Z,0-9, or
_, must start with letter A-Z.
form sequence Sequence in which FORMSPEC forms are displayed, also,
and whether a form repeats and/or is appended to
previous form.
forms file A MPE file containing definitions of a set of related
forms that are displayed by an application or by ENTRY.
Forms File Menu FORMSPEC menu through which forms designer requests that
a new forms file be created to contain a new set of
forms, or that an existing forms file be accessed so
that it can be modified.
FORMSPEC Program through which forms designer designs a set of
related forms and saves them as a forms file, or
modifies the forms in an existing forms file.
frozen form Form that remains (is frozen) on the screen when the
next form in form sequence is displayed below it.
function keys Set of keys on HP terminals that are programmed to
perform particular functions; the functions of these
keys differ for FORMSPEC, ENTRY Browse mode, and ENTRY
Collect mode.
globals Characteristics of a FORMSPEC forms file that apply to
all forms in the file, rather than being local to a
particular form.
Globals Menu FORMSPEC menu on which the forms designer specifies
non-default global characteristics of the forms file.
head form First form displayed when forms file is executed; it
need not be first form in file.
HEAD FORM f1 ENTRY function key used to display head form on terminal
screen.
IMPn Numeric data type indicating field with implied decimal
point; n decimal positions; allows numeric data with
sign, commas, decimal point.
index-retrieve List of operands one of which is selected according to
operand the value of an index.
INIT Header introducing statements to be executed in the
initialization phase of FORMSPEC processing.
initial value Value assigned to a field or save field; appears in
field when the form containing the field is first
displayed.
initialization Initial phase of FORMSPEC processing performed before
phase form is displayed on terminal screen.
list device An output device, such as a line printer, to which
listings of program or data files are directed.
listing Printed output showing the external characteristics of a
file or form; forms file listings are generated by
FORMSPEC, form or batch file listings by ENTRY.
literal value Exact value, rather than an expression or field name,
that indicates a type of value; see constant.
MAIN f7 FORMSPEC function key used to request the Main Menu.
Main Menu FORMSPEC menu on which forms designer requests a form
design function, such as adding a form, listing forms
file, compiling forms file.
MDY Data type used to indicate date type field in which
entered date must be in order: Month Day Year.
menu Form issued by FORMSPEC on which form designer requests
particular functions or enters form characteristics.
message Descriptive phrase issued in window line of a form to
provide documentation, warnings, or error diagnosis.
MPE The Multiprogramming Executive operating system of the
HP 3000 computer system.
NEXT f6 FORMSPEC function key used to display next menu in the
sequence of FORMSPEC menus.
NEXT FORM f2 FORMSPEC function key used to display next Form Menu.
NEXT FORM f6 ENTRY function key used to stop a repeating form and
display next different form.
NEXT REC f6 ENTRY function key used to display next batch record.
NUM Numeric data type that causes data entered in field to
be formatted as floating point number; allows numeric
data with sign, commas, decimal point.
NUMn Numeric data type indicating field with n decimal
positions, actual decimal point; allows numeric data
with sign, commas, decimal point.
operating System that controls user interface with HP 3000
system
computer system; specifically controls program operation
and files.
operand Element used in FORMSPEC processing statements;
depending on statement may be constant, field name, save
field name, arithmetic expression, or index retrieve
operand.
optional field Field in FORMSPEC form that allows data to be omitted.
phase Specification that determines when FORMSPEC processing
is to be performed: before data entry, during data
entry, or following data entry.
PREV f5 FORMSPEC function key used to display previous menu in
sequence of FORMSPEC menus.
PREV FORM f1 FORMSPEC function key used to display previous Form
Menu.
PREV REC f5 ENTRY function key used to display previous batch
record.
PRINT f3 ENTRY function key used to list form or batch record on
line printer.
process field Field in FORMSPEC form that is processed even if no data
is entered (field is blank).
processing Area in FORMSPEC Field Menu in which processing
specifications statements can be entered.
area
processing Statement that describes processing to be performed on
statement data entered in a field; statement is entered in
processing specification area of Field Menu.
protected field A field in a FORMSPEC form that is protected from data
entry.
REFRESH f4 FORMSPEC function key used to clear FORMSPEC menu of any
specifications entered by designer and redisplay cleared
menu.
REFRESH f4 ENTRY function key used to clear displayed form of
entered data.
repeating form A form that is repeated on terminal screen until the
user presses the NEXT FORM key.
required field A field in a FORMSPEC form into which data must be
entered.
RESUME f7 FORMSPEC function key that returns to the menu displayed
before designer pressed MAIN to go to Main Menu.
Physically, the same as MAIN.
RETURN Key used to enter data or a command when terminal is not
in block mode.
save field A field in a FORMSPEC forms file that is not part of any
form, and can be used to hold (save) data used by any
field or form in the file.
screen order Order of fields in a screen in which first field is at
top left of screen and last field at bottom right.
source file Version of FORMSPEC forms file that can be modified as
opposed to the compiled version of the same file that
can be executed.
statement Combination of a key word and parameters that describes
processing to be performed on field in FORMSPEC form;
see processing statement.
unprotected Field in a FORMSPEC form into which the user can enter
field data.
window Line in FORMSPEC menu or form displayed by an
application or by ENTRY in which message is displayed.
YMD Data type used to indicate date type field in which
entered date must be in order: Year Month Day.
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