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

Chapter 3 79
INTRODUCTION TO FORMS DESIGN
FORMS FILE
FORMS FILE
The forms file consists of "global" specifications that apply to all forms in the file, followed
by the individual forms specification. Within each form specification, the form is identified,
and its form layout is defined. The form layout defines each field into which data can be
entered. Each of these different types of specification is entered on a menu displayed by
FORMSPEC. (Refer to Figure 3-12. for an illustration of a prototype forms file.)
Forms Modification
At any time during forms design, you can change any form or field currently specified in
the forms file. The function keys or the Main Menu allow you to return to any existing form
or field specification. You can then simply change the field or form and press
ENTER. The
new specifications override those previously entered. Refer to "Ease of Forms Design"
earlier in this section.
Another method of modifying a form file is to use the delete option on Main Menu. This
option allows you to delete an entire form or to delete fields global to all forms (save fields).
When you delete a form, be sure to modify any other form that references the deleted form.
For example, if FORM2 is given as the next form name for FORM I, and FORM2 is deleted,
you must change the next form name specification on the menu for FORM1. Note that
when you delete a parent form, all child forms of that form family will be deleted also.
Refer to the "Main Menu" menu description and the "Form Families" discussion for more
information.
Copying of Processing Specifications
The processing specification copy function allows processing specifications to be copied
from one field to another field within and across forms files. Processing specifications are
entered from the Field Menu of the FORMSPEC utility. This function is also invoked
interactively from the Field Menu.
To use this function, enter one of the following commands in the first line of the processing
specifications area in the Field Menu:
• #COPYTO
newfilename
• #COPTFROM oldfilename
If processing specifications exist on the first line, press Insert Line before entering the
command. After entering one of these commands, press
F3 to execute the command.
NOTE These commands are not case sensitive.
#COPYTO
When #COPYTO
newfilename is executed, the processing specifications defined for the field
are copied to the file specified by newfilename. As the template suggests, the file specified
should be a new file. If there are no processing specifications to copy, the new file is not