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

Chapter 5 199
Reformatting Specifications
Main Menu
If the file has already been compiled, it is recompiled and the newly compiled version
replaces the previous version. There is never more than one compiled version of a reformat
file at a time. When you modify the source version, the compiled version is not affected.
Adding Global Specifications
Certain characteristics of the reformat definition are global; that is, they apply to the
entire output file. For example, record length and the end of record separators are global
definitions. (Refer to the Globals Menu description below.)
REFSPEC supplies default values for all global characteristics and, unless you want to
change these defaults, you need never be concerned with global values. If you do want to
specify nondefault global characteristics, enter
G in the Main Menu selection box, but do
not specify a reformat identifier or output field name. The Globals Menu, shown in Figure
5-13., is displayed so you can enter global specifications.
Changing the Forms File Name
Normally, you will not need to modify the forms file name once it has been specified.
However, in case the forms file is renamed with the MPE :RENAME command, you can go to
the Forms File Menu and rename the forms file to correspond to its new name. To do this,
enter
F in the Main Menu selection box and, when the Forms File Menu is displayed, type
in the new forms file name.
Modifying Reformat Specifications
You can change a reformat specification at any time, either as you initially define the
specification, or after the reformat file has been compiled. In either case, you locate the
particular specification through the Main Menu selection box or with the function keys
that control menu sequence.
Changing an Input Forms Sequence
Each input forms sequence consists of the form names associated with batch records to be
reformatted and written to the output file. (Since each batch file record is associated with a
form name, the list of form names is in effect a list of batch records.) The first form name in
any input forms sequence is called the reformat identifier. Each reformat identifier is
unique to the reformat file and is used to identify the input forms sequence.
If you want to modify an input forms sequence, enter
G in the Main Menu selection box,
and then specify the reformat identifier that identifies that sequence; or locate the input
forms sequence you want with PREV REFORMAT or NEXT REFORMAT. The Input Forms Menu
is displayed with the form names previously specified. You can then change any of these
names, add new names, or delete existing names. When you have made the changes, press
ENTER. You can change the reformat identifier exactly as you would change any other form
name, but the changed identifier must still be unique to the reformat file.
Note that if you change an Input Forms Menu, you must validate the associated Output
Record and you may have to validate the Output Field Menus. To do this, you request the
applicable Output Record and output Field Menus and press
ENTER for each. (If these
menus were affected by your change to the Input Forms Menu, you must make the