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

Chapter 7 371
USING FORMSPEC IN BATCH MODE
INVOKING FORMSPEC IN BATCH MODE
INVOKING FORMSPEC IN BATCH MODE
FORMSPEC in batch mode can be invoked from within a job stream or from within a
session. When invoked, FORMSPEC can accept batch mode commands from a command
file or from $STDIN.
To invoke FORMSPEC to accept batch mode commands from a command file, use the MPE
:RUN command with the INFO=
filename parameter, where filename is the name of the
command file. For example:
:RUN FORMSPEC.PUB.SYS;INFO="COMMANDS.PUB.MFG"
will execute FORMSPEC in batch mode using COMMANDS.PUB.MFG as the command file.
Remember, before you can invoke FORMSPEC in batch mode to accept commands from a
command file, you must first create the command file using a text editor and enter the
batch mode commands into the file. (See the end of this section for a sample of a command
file.)
The INFO=
filename parameter directly invokes batch mode. In addition, FORMSPEC will
always execute in batch mode within a job stream. When the INFO=
filename parameter is
omitted within a job stream, $STDIN becomes the command file by default and commands
are accepted from within the job stream. In order to use $STDIN as the command file
within a session, the INFO=
filename parameter is required. For example:
:RUN FORMSPEC.PUB.SYS;INFO="$STDIN"
In response to the greater than (>) prompt, enter the batch mode commands. Although this
usage of batch mode will not free up a terminal, users will have the ability to react to any
error conditions which may occur.
When FORMSPEC detects an error in batch mode, the error message is sent to the output
file ($STDLIST by default). The number of errors can be checked with FORMSPECERRORJCW;
number of warnings can be checked with FORMSPECWARNJCW. An error will cause one of the
following actions:
• If any batch mode command except the FILE command causes an error, then
FORMSPEC will skip that command and continue to the next command.
• If a FILE command caused the error or the error occurred because FORMSPEC did not
recognize a batch mode command, then all batch mode commands, except the FORMS
command, will be skipped until the next FILE or the EXIT command is encountered.
Batch mode output (errors, warnings, or messages) will normally be directed to $STDLIST.
However, output can be redirected to another file by using the MPE :FILE command to
redefine the formal file designator, FORMOUT. For example, since $STDLIST in a session is
the terminal, you may want to redirect output to the line printer as follows:
:FILE FORMOUT;DEV=LP
When the output file is redirected to a disc file or the list device, the batch mode commands
will also be echoed to the output file as they are executed. This will help to determine the
cause of any errors that may occur.