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

660 AppendixL
A Programmer’s Guide to VPLUS
VPLUS Enhancements
VPLUS Enhancements
There have been many changes and enhancements to VPLUS since version B.04.10. This
section will briefly discuss some of the changes and enhancements and how they can be of
use to the programmer. The ones reviewed in this section are:
• HPTOUCH Support
• Cursor Positioning
• 264X Function Key Labels
• Enhanced VGETFORMINFO
• Batch Mode Formspec Enhancements
• Color Support for 2627A and 2392A Terminals
• VCHANGEFIELD
• VPLUS Environment Control File
HPTOUCH Support (Introduced on VPLUS B.04.10 in MPE G.01.01)
With HPTOUCH support in VPLUS, a programmer may design a form that is to be used
with the HP150, the 2393A or the 2397A. Users may select a field by touching the field on
the screen. When a field is selected, VREADFIELDS interprets the row and column
coordinates into a field number.
VREADFIELDS returns the field number as a negative number to LASTKEY. Negative
numbers are returned into LASTKEY so as to distinguish from the positive number that is
returned when a function key is hit. LASTKEY is set to -999 if the area touched is not a field.
HPTOUCH is enabled by setting bit 0 of the SHOWCONTROL word in the user’s COMAREA to 1.
An example of coding the HPTOUCH feature is outlined in the VPLUS/V Reference
Manual in Appendix E. Currently, HPTOUCH is supported on the 2393A, 2397A and
HP150 terminals. For an up-to-date list of the terminals supporting HPTOUCH, refer to
Appendix G of the VPLUS/V Reference Manual.
Cursor Positioning (Introduced on VPLUS B.04.10 in MPE G.01.01)
VPLUS displays the screen and positions the cursor to the first field on the form. With
some applications, positioning the cursor elsewhere would eliminate the requirement that
the user press T to get to the desired field. VPLACECURSOR is a new intrinsic introduced in
VPLUS version B.04.10 which allows the cursor to be positioned at an unprotected field.
An unprotected field is any field in which the user is allowed to enter data. Protected fields
may be headings or display-only fields. If the cursor is positioned at a display-only field, an
error is returned. VSHOWFORM should be called first before positioning the cursor. The
parameters of VPLACECURSOR are:
• COMAREA
• FIELDNUM - If the field number parameter is negative, it implies screen order number. If
the field number parameter is positive, field number creation order is implied. The