HP Data Entry and Forms Management System (VPLUS) Reference Manual (32209-90024)

Chapter 1 35
VPLUS Overview
Product Overview
Browse/Modify
The user can view the data already written to the batch file by requesting browse/modify
mode. The user requests this mode by pressing a terminal function key. The same key
returns the user to data collection mode at the point of interruption.
When browse/modify is requested, the previous data record written to the batch file is
displayed on the form through which it was entered. The user can examine the data,
change it if desired, and then press
Enter. Any new data is written to the same batch
record, overwriting data previously entered in the same form.
If the user wants to examine the entire file, he or she simply presses a function key to
request the first batch record. The data in this record is displayed on the form through
which it was entered. When
NEXT is pressed, the data in the next batch record is displayed.
The user can progress through all the records in the batch file by making changes as
required and pressing
Enter, or by leaving the data unaltered and pressing NEXT.
As with data collection, terminal function keys enable the user to have further control over
the sequence of browsed data. The keys for browse/modify allow the user to:
• Display data from the first batch record on its form.
• Display data from the previous batch record on its form.
• Display data from the next batch record on its form.
• Reset the current form to the values displayed before any current modifications were
entered.
• Delete the record currently displayed at the terminal.
• Print the current record on the line printer.
• Return to collection mode to enter new data.
• Terminate ENTRY.
Reformatting Data
ENTRY writes entered data to a batch file. This file can then be used as input to an
application. Sometimes it is necessary to reformat the data in the batch file so that it
meets the input requirements of the application. VPLUS provides a reformatting
capability that enables you to:
• Combine data entered on several forms into one output record.
• Separate data entered on a single form into several output records.
• Rearrange data within a record, inserting constants, and generating check digits before
writing it to the output file.
• Format data within fields by justifying, filling, stripping characters, or adjusting the
sign of a numeric value.
The REFSPEC program enables you to specify how you want to reformat the batch file.
This program operates very much like FORMSPEC in that it displays menus, allows you to
"draw" a pattern of the output record, and allows you to accept default field formatting or
specify your particular formatting.