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

Chapter 5 193
Reformatting Specifications
Using REFSPEC
Using REFSPEC
You execute REFSPEC by entering the following command in response to the MPE colon
prompt:
:RUN REFSPEC.PUB.SYS
Since REFSPEC runs entirely in block mode, your terminal is placed in block mode
automatically.
Like FORMSPEC, REFSPEC prompts for information on menu screens. The information
you enter on these menus defines how data in the batch file is to be reformatted and
written to an output file. The first menu issued whenever you run REFSPEC is the
Reformat File Menu.
If you specify a new reformat file, REFSPEC creates this file and then issues the Forms
File Menu so you can specify the forms file through which the data to be reformatted was
entered. If you specify an existing reformat file, it is already associated with a forms file so
the Forms File Menu is not issued, and the Main Menu is the next menu.
NOTE If your file has a lockword, you must enter the lockword along with the file
name, as filename/lockword. If you do not enter a lockword with the file name
and one is required, your terminal hangs. This is because the MPE prompt
requesting the lockword is in character mode and cannot be received while
your terminal is in block mode. You can recover from this error by doing a
hard reset followed by pressing
RETURN at least four times, then pressing f8
to exit. How you perform a hard reset depends on what type of terminal you
are using; consult your terminal manual for instructions.
Terminating REFSPEC
You can terminate operation of REFSPEC at any time by pressing EXIT to return to MPE
control, indicated by the colon prompt (:).
When you next run REFSPEC after terminating and request the same reformat file, the
Forms File Menu is skipped and the Main Menu is displayed on the screen. You may then
select an option on the Main Menu or you can press MAIN/RESUME to display the Forms File
Menu. If you specify a new reformat file on the Reformat File Menu, the next menu issued
is the Forms File Menu.
Unexpected Program Interruption
As with FORMSPEC, if the program halts unexpectedly because of a terminal power
failure or the user pressing
BREAK, control returns to MPE. Refer to Appendix G for the
steps to recover from such a situation. After you have recovered, you then press REFRESH to
return to the REFSPEC Menu where you were interrupted. The menu is cleared to initial
or previously entered values. To ensure against damage to the file, reenter the information
on all menus pertaining to the reformat you were creating or modifying at the time of
program interruption.