Rational Programming Patterns

Screen -CE Lines tab

The purpose of this tab is to identify the fields that constitute the Screen. Each field has a position and a length. Some fields can contain data.

The elements that constitute the Screen layout are presented in a table and can be grouped inside three categories (top, repetitive, and bottom categories).

There are two major types of fields in a Screen:
  • Fields with fixed contents. These fields are generally labels that are directly associated with variable fields and usually specify the contents of that field.
  • Fields with variable contents that are either unprotected (input fields) or protected (display fields). They correspond to Data Elements described and processed in the program that is associated with the Screen layout.

You can also call an existing Screen to integrate its description into the current Screen.

You can simulate a Screen to check the position and characteristics of its fields and labels as they will be displayed when the transaction is run.
Important: If Rational® Programming Patterns is installed on top of Rational Developer for AIX® and Linux, you must first start a 3270 emulator. In the connection parameters, enter the IP address of the local workstation (localhost or 127.0.0.1) and the port number 8889.
From a Screen whose editor is open and selected, click Open the emulator on the selected Screen in the toolbar to open the simulation.
  • If you are in a Rational Developer for AIX and Linux environment, the Screen emulator view opens.
  • If you are in a Rational Developer for AIX and Linux environment, the simulated Screen opens in the 3270 emulator that is already open.
If you add a Data Element in the -CE Lines or change a presentation label, for example, you can see the modification in the Screen emulator view or the 3270 emulator by clicking Open the emulator on the selected Screen again.
Note: You can link the Screen emulator view or the 3270 emulator with the current Screen by clicking Link with current Screen in the view toolbar. The view or the emulator then listens to the modifications in the -CE Lines and display them simultaneously.
Figure 1. Sample of a -CE Lines tab
Screen -CE Lines
It is constituted of three different parts:
  • An editable table that is identical to the Pacbase -CE screen. You can enter values in this table directly, if you are familiar with the -CE screen. Some of the fields in the table offer values in a list. When you move your cursor on a value of the list, the label that is associated with the value is displayed in a tooltip.
    Note: For a guided input, you must use the definition sections that you open with the Add buttons. These sections display only the relevant fields for the inserted elements, with all the possible values for each field.

    This table displays all the elements that constitute the Screen:

    • Fields, which can be protected, variable, or protected and received (field icon).

      Each field call line contains one or more nested lines that display the information that is specified in the additional controls for the selected field section (Additional controls for the selected field icon). Click the + symbol at the beginning of the field call line to see it.

    • Labels, which can be fixed labels, Data Element labels, or Screen titles (Label icon).
    • Screen call (Screen call icon).

    Each call line displays the type and name of the element.

    These elements belong to one of the three categories (Category icon). Each category can be defined only once in a Screen. The three categories are
    • The heading of the Screen (Screen-top category)
    • The repetitive section of the Screen (repetitive category)
    • The bottom of the Screen (Screen-bottom category)

    All the elements that are called before the repetitive category implicitly belong to the top category, even if the category line is not displayed. All the elements that are called after a category line belong to this category.

    All the table columns are displayed by default. To reduce the number of columns, right-click the table and select Show columns > Select.

    The table columns display the following information:
    • Position in columns P (absolute or relative positioning), LN (line position) and COL (column position). They show the position of the field, label, category, or Screen call in the current Screen.
    • Type in column N. It shows whether the field is protected or variable, and whether the label is fixed or represents a Screen title or Data Element label.
    • Field presentation in columns L (display of the Data Element only, or of the Data Element and its label (with the type and position of the label)), C (automatic positioning of the cursor on the field when the Screen is opened), Init Value (initial value), and Sim Value (simulation value).
    • Number of repetitions in columns HR (horizontal repetition), and VR (vertical repetition) for a field or the repetitive category.
    • Additional controls for the field in columns P (presence check), V (action code), U (update option), Target (target Segment code), Source (source Segment code), S (source type), and LV (generation level).
    • Intensity, presentation, and color attributes in columns In (intensity attribute), Pr (presentation attribute), and Co (color attribute) for the Data Element and label (if any) that constitute the field, or for the label.
    • Label that displays on the Screen in column Label.
    Important: For explanations and the list of all the possible values for each input field, see the detailed help of the appropriate definition section. For example, to see the detailed explanations on Init Value, see the help of the Field definition section.
  • Buttons that you can click to add fields to your Screen, remove existing fields, or reorder them.
    Note: The possible actions with the buttons are also available in the contextual menu of the table.
  • Sections that open depending on your selection in the table or on the line you want to create. These sections contain fields in which you select or enter the values. When you save, these values display in the table.
    Important: For explanations and the list of all the possible values for each input field, see the detailed help of the appropriate definition section. For example, to see the detailed explanations on Init Value, see the help of the Field definition section.
    A section opens up when you select one of the following lines:
    • Label line opens Label definition section,
    • Category line opens Category definition section,
    • Screen call line opens Screen Call definition section,
    • Field line opens Field definition section,
    • Line nested inside a field line opens Additional controls for the selected field section.

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