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

Chapter 3 61
INTRODUCTION TO FORMS DESIGN
EASE OF FORMS DESIGN
EASE OF FORMS DESIGN
Once you have specified a forms file and the Main Menu is displayed, you are ready to use
FORMSPEC to create forms. Whenever you create a new forms file, your first task is
always to add a form; if you are modifying an existing file, you may want to add a form. In
either case, you follow the sequence of menus shown in Figure 3-4. Refer to the menu
descriptions later in this section for more information on all the FORMSPEC menus.
Figure 3-4. Sequence of Menus for Form Design
A Form Menu, shown later in Figure 3-10., allows you to define the characteristics of each
form, such as the form name and what form sequencing options to use. Refer to
"Understanding Form Sequencing" below.
Form Layout
The Form Menu is followed by a blank screen on which you design the layout of the form as
it will appear on the screen. An example of a form layout is shown in Figure 3-5. This
layout is easy to draw on the screen — and easy to change at this stage or later. You use
your terminal editing keys to layout the fields and text of your form on the screen; refer to
your terminal manual for more information.
Forms Menu
[FORM1 ]
Forms Menu
[FORMn ]
Forms File
[FORMF ]
Main Menu
[A]
Name Name Name
[Fn ]
Name
[Fn ]
Name
Selection
FORM1 TITLE
[F1]. . . [Fn]
FORMn TITLE
[F1]. . . [Fn]
Field Menu
[F1 ]
Field Menu
[F1 ]
:run
f
:RUN FORMSPEC.PUB.SYS
Enter filename
Select Option
(A= Add a Form)
Enter filename
Layout Form
Specify Edits
Enter formname
Layout Form
Specify Edits
. . .
Name
Name