HP Data Entry and Forms Management System (VPLUS) Reference Manual (32209-90024)
Chapter 8 403
NATIVE LANGUAGE SUPPORT
NLS CAPABILITIES
NLS CAPABILITIES
The components of a form which can be language-dependent are the initial values of fields
and the field edit rules. The text is fixed in a single native language by the forms designer.
The native language ID number determines the context for data editing, conversion, and
formatting. There are two native language IDs assigned for each forms file. The
FORMSPEC language controls the context when the forms file is designed. The forms file
language controls the context when the forms file is executed.
Setting the Native Language ID Numbers
The forms designer sets both native language ID number values for the forms file via the
FORMSPEC Terminal/Language Selection Menu. NATIVE-3000 is currently the only
selection available for FORMSPEC language. This means that initial values and
processing specifications must be defined with the month names and numeric conventions
of NATIVE-3000.
The native language ID for the forms file language defaults to 0 (NATIVE-3000) if no
native language ID number is specified on the Terminal/Language Selection Menu. On this
menu, the forms designer can assign or change the native language ID for the forms file
language at any time. The value specified must be a positive number or a zero for a single
native language application. If the value specified is acceptable, but the native language is
not configured on the system used for forms design, FORMSPEC issues a warning
message but does not reject the native language ID number. Instead, the designer is
prompted to confirm the value or change it.
For applications that are used with multiple native languages, the forms designer specifies
the international language ID number -1. The international language ID number allows
the intrinsic VSETLANG to be called at run-time to select the actual native language ID
number for the forms file. If an application uses an international forms file without calling
VSETLANG, it is executed in the default, NATIVE-3000. If VSETLANG is called for an
unlocalized or language-dependent forms file, an error code will be returned.
The designer has three options in designing an application to work effectively with
multiple languages:
• Develop several language-dependent forms files.
• Create one international forms file.
• Produce a combination of language-dependent files and an international forms file.
If the text needs to be in the native language, unique versions of a forms file are required
for each native language supported.
VGETLANG may be used to determine whether a language-dependent forms file or an
international forms file is being executed. If VGETLANG indicates an international forms
file, VSETLANG must be called to select the actual native language. Refer to the VGETLANG
and VSETLANG intrinsics in Section 6.