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

Chapter 3 89

INTRODUCTION TO FORMS DESIGN

FORM FAMILIES

The solution to this problem of long user waiting time is to create two forms with the same

form layout but different ﬁeld attributes.

Suppose the root or parent form of this example is named CUSTPAR, and that its form

layout is as shown in Figure 3-15. below. All of the ﬁelds in this form are display only,

except for the Customer ID Number ﬁeld, which is required.

Figure 3-15. Parent Form

Create a child form, CUSTCHILD, by specifying CUSTPAR in the "Reproduced from" ﬁeld of

the Form Menu. Press

NEXT until the Field Menu for CUSTID appears and make it a

display only ﬁeld. Make all other data ﬁelds in the form optional. Compile the forms ﬁle.

Figure 3-16. Child Form

Now when the user types the customer ID and presses

ENTER, the application retrieves

the related information from the database and displays it in the form immediately. Once

the form is on the screen, it appears to remain there as long as the user uses the

application, rather than being repainted each time for every customer about whom the

user calls up data.

Customer Record

Customer ID Number Form ID

Transaction Product

Date Number Price Quantity Total

CUSTPAR

Required

Field

Init set to

“CUSTPAR”

Display only

Fields