After you specify the forms and batch files, the Head form is the first form to appear. Depending on the
forms file definition, the Head form could be a menu from which
you could select the particular form on which you want to enter
data. If the Head form is a menu, the data you enter determines
which form is displayed next.
The next form displayed after the Head form also depends on
the definition of the forms file; it is usually a data form on which
you enter data in unprotected fields. All entered data is stored
in the batch file when you press Enter. At that time, ENTRY automatically displays the next form
in the sequence defined in the forms file. This process continues until
all the forms in the sequence have been displayed, or until you
press the Exit function key.
Repeating Forms |
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The next form is not always a different form. For instance,
a form used for order entry may be repeated as you enter different
data into the form. Each time you press Enter to enter data for a repeating form, the next form displayed
is identical to the preceding form except that the unprotected fields
are empty or contain initial values.
You interrupt a repeating form in order to display the next
form by pressing the NEXT FORM function key. In this case, the form that immediately
follows the repeating form is displayed. If you know that the next
form is the first form (the "head" form), you can also display this
form by pressing the HEAD FORM function key.
Appended Forms |
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Forms may also be designed so that the next form is appended
to the current form. An appended form is displayed immediately below
the current form on the screen. When you type data into the current
form and then press Enter, the data in the current form is written to the batch
file as usual, but the form and its data remain on the screen with
the next form displayed below it. Note that an appended form may
also be a repeating form, or it may be different from the preceding
form.
You may then enter data in the appended form, but not in the
previous form. Although the previous form remains on the screen,
all of its fields become protected.
Frozen Forms |
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A form can be designed as frozen. A frozen form remains on the screen when subsequent forms
are displayed. The next form after a frozen form is always appended
to the frozen form. As you enter data into the next form (or forms),
eventually no more space will be available on the screen, depending
on the form size. At this point, the top appended form rolls off
the screen leaving the frozen form at the top of the screen. Forms
rolled off the screen cannot be rolled back down for review. Data
in the frozen form can be changed only by entering Browse/Modify
mode using the BROWSE function key.
The following steps provide an example of a possible sequence
of forms, including a repeating appended form that follows a frozen
form.
For a frozen Head form, press Enter to append the Next form, as shown in figure 2-1. The Next
form is then repeated/appended whenever you press Enter.
Press NEXT FORM to stop repeating, clear the screen, and display
the Next form.
Press Enter to return to the Head form.
