Dialog or Screen Definition tab

This tab is common to the Dialog and its constituting Screens. You specify the presentation characteristics of the Screens and the default values of the Screen attributes. The values that are selected at the Dialog level become the default values of the Screens and are marked as Inherited on the Screen Definition tab. Inappropriate default values can be overwritten at the Screen level.

Dialog type
In this field, you initialize the Dialog or Screen type as a standard online type or a TUI type.
Type of COBOL to generate
In this field, you specify the COBOL variant for the generated Screen.
Note: Some variants are deprecated or not supported.
Table 1. Values of the COBOL to generate
Value Meaning
Default Value of the Generated language field in the Library Definition tab.
N No generation
X IBM® MVS™ COBOL II, IBM VSE COBOL II
0 IBM MVS/ESA OS/390®
1 IBM DOS/VSE
3 UNIX, WINDOWS
4 BULL GCOS7 COBOL
5 BULL GCOS8 COBOL
6 BULL GCOS8 COBOL, TP8 Screens
8 UNISYS A-SERIES COBOL
F TANDEM COBOL
I DEC/VAX VMS COBOL
K ICL 2900 COBOL
O IBM AS/400® COBOL
Q ACUCOBOL
R TUXEDO COBOL
U UNISYS 2200–SERIES COBOL
Z IBM AIX®
TP monitor variant
In this field, you specify the variant of the TP monitor for the generated Screen.
Table 2. Values of the TP monitor variant
Value Meaning
Default Retrieval of default value
N No generation
0 Variants 0, 1, X for CICS® (IBM) (programs and BMS maps).

Variant 3 for PC/MICRO FOCUS (MS/DOS).

Variants 4, 5, 6 for QUESTAR.

Variant 8 for UNISYS A-Series SDF format.

Variant I for DEC/VAX.

Variant Q for UNIX, Windows (ACUCOBOL).

Variant U for UNISYS 2200 (programs and FLDP maps).

Variant O for AS 400.

Variant Z for AIX (IBM).

1 Variants 0, X for IMS™ (IBM) (programs and MFS maps).

Variant 3 for PC/MICRO FOCUS (OS2).

Variants 4, 5, 6 for VIP TYPE.

2 Variants 0, 1, X for CICS (IBM), BMS color map

Variant 3 for MICRO FOCUS (UNIX).

3 Variants 0, X for IMS (IBM), MFS map in color.
4 Variants 0, X for IMS (IBM) monitor.

Variant 3 for IBM COBOL program.

5 Variants 0, X for CICS (IBM) monitor.
C Variants 4, 5, 6, U for multiterminal.

Variants 0, 1, X for CICS multiterminal.

Variant K for ICL.

Variant 8 for UNISYS A-Series logical screen.

F Variant 4 for TDS FORMS (BULL GCOS7).

Variant R for a TPSVRINIT or TPSVRDONE service-type program.

R Variant F for a REQUESTER-type program or variant R for a CLIENT-type program.
S Variant F for a SERVER-type program or variant R for a SERVICE-type program.
Generation with map
Specify whether you want to generate the Screen with or without its map. It is selected by default. So, the map is generated by default.
Note: After the import, the check box is not selected if the -CE lines of the Screen are empty.
The map is never generated in the following cases:
  • The Type of COBOL to generate is C.
  • The combination Type of COBOL to generate and TP monitor variant is 4 0, 3 0, or 3 2.
The map generation can also be requested with the NOMAP option in the -GO Lines. In this case, the values of the two options are combined in the following way:
  • If this check box is selected, the map is generated if the NOMAP=NO option is generated. However, it is not generated if the NOMAP=YES option is indicated.
  • If this check box is not selected, the map is not generated, whichever the value of the NOMAP option is.

COBOL target

By default, the generated COBOL files are stored with the design files in a root folder whose default name you can change. You can separate them from the design files or even change the generation project and folder.

Note: More information related to the Generation target of a Program or a Screen is available.

In a Library, the default values of the COBOL project, COBOL folder, and Map folder (for Screens only) are the values of the current project. If the project and folders are not indicated, the default values in a Dialog are the values of the Library or current project, as applicable. In a Screen or Server, the default values are the values of the Dialog, Library or current project, as applicable.

A COBOL folder or map (for Screen) can be indicated in various entities:
  • A library: It then constitutes the default value for all the Dialogs and Screens or Servers of this Library.
  • A Dialog: It then constitutes the default value for all the Screens or Servers of this Dialog.
  • A Screen or Server: It then applies to the instance only.
COBOL project
The files that are generated from this instance will be stored in the project displayed in this field.

The project of the corresponding design file is the default project. If it has been kept, Default is displayed between parentheses next to the project. However, if it has been explicitly changed in the instance, only the project is displayed here, without any other indication. If it has been explicitly changed in the Dialog, Inherited from Dialog is then displayed between parentheses next to the project. If it has been explicitly changed in the generation Library, Inherited from Library is then displayed between parentheses next to the project. In the instance, you can overwrite the value that is inherited from the Library.

You can select a new project in the drop-down list.

If you change the project, the COBOL folder and map folder (for Screens) are automatically set to the default value (rpp). The new project will be taken into account upon the next generation.

COBOL folder
The files that are generated from this instance will be stored in the folder displayed here, inside the project displayed in the previous field

The folder of the corresponding design file is the default folder. If it has been kept, Default is displayed between parentheses next to the folder. However, if it has been explicitly changed in the instance, only the folder is displayed here, without any other indication. If it has been explicitly changed in the Dialog, Inherited from Dialog is then displayed between parentheses next to the folder. If it has been explicitly changed in the generation Library, Inherited from Library is then displayed between parentheses next to the folder. In the instance, you can overwrite the value indicated in the Library.

If the default folder has been kept, you can specify a root path for the generated files in the Properties wizard (accessed by clicking the Change project properties button). This path will be automatically inserted in this field, at the beginning of the folder.

You can select a new folder in the drop-down list. Creating a folder is impossible at this stage. Folders must have already been created in the project, for example from the Resource perspective.

If you change the folder, it will be taken into account upon the next generation.

Change project properties
This button opens the Properties wizard, where you can perform the following actions:
  • Change the default folder. This folder contains the design files and is the default target of the generated and metadata files.
  • Indicate a root path for the generated files, provided the default generation folder has been kept.
  • Indicate a root path for the metadata files, which are stored by default in the same folder as the other generated files.
Note: A detailed help is available from the Properties wizard of the project.
Map folder
This folder is used upon a Screen generation only. The map file that is generated from this instance will be stored in the folder displayed here, inside the project displayed in the COBOL project field.

The folder of the corresponding design file is the default folder. If it has been kept, Default is displayed between parentheses next to the folder. However, if it has been explicitly changed in the instance, only the folder is displayed here, without any other indication. If it has been explicitly changed in the Dialog, Inherited from Dialog is then displayed between parentheses next to the folder. If it has been explicitly changed in the generation Library, Inherited from Library is then displayed between parentheses next to the folder. In the instance, you can overwrite the value indicated in the Library.

If the default folder has been kept, you can specify a root path for the generated files in the Properties wizard (accessed by clicking the Change project properties button). This path applies both to the COBOL files and the map files. It will be automatically inserted in this field, at the beginning of the folder.

If the COBOL file has been changed and if the map file contains the default value, then the map file takes on the same value as the COBOL folder.

If you change the map folder, the new folder will be taken into account upon the next generation.

Label presentation initialization value
The values of this field correspond to the association between the Data Element and the presentation characteristics for these labels.

At the Screen level, it is used to override the selection made at the Dialog level.

There are four possible labels:
  • The long label (36 positions), entered on the Data Element Definition tab
  • The short label (18 positions), entered on the Data Element -D Lines tab
  • The relational label (18 positions), entered on the Data Element -D Lines tab
  • The column heading label, entered on the Data Element -D Lines tab
Table 3. Values for the display of the Data Element label
Value Comment
Default value Defaults to the value specified in the Dialog.
F: Data Element only The Data Element is displayed without any label.
L: Data Element with long label, left-aligned The Data Element is preceded by the Data Element label, left-aligned, on 36 positions.
M: Data Element with long label, right-aligned The Data Element is preceded by the Data Element label, right-aligned, on 36 positions.
N: Data Element with long label, left-aligned, trimmed right The Data Element is preceded by the Data Element label, left-aligned with the deletion of blanks on the right.
R: Data Element with long relational label, left-aligned The Data Element is preceded by the relational label, left-aligned on 18 positions.
S: Data Element with short label, left-aligned The Data Element is preceded by the short label, left-aligned, on 18 positions.
T: Data Element with short label, right-aligned The Data Element is preceded by the short label, right-aligned, on 18 positions.
U: Data Element with short label, left-aligned, trimmed right The Data Element is preceded by the short label, left-aligned, with the deletion of blanks at the end of the string.
1: Data Element topped by a single line column label The Data Element is topped by the column label on one line.
2: Data Element topped by a 2–line column label The Data Element is topped by the column label on two lines.
3: Data Element topped by a 3–line column label The Data Element is topped by the column label on three lines.
Note: A period (.) is generated for the Data Elements that are preceded by a long, short, or relational label. For the Data Elements topped by a column label, the greatest length of the Data Element label and content is taken into account for the relative positioning in the Screen.
Program external name
The name entered here is the name of the file that is generated from this instance. The generated file name can then differ from the instance name.
Transaction code
This field corresponds to:
  • The four-character transaction code (Dialog default code) for a CICS variant.
  • The transaction code that is associated with the Dialog for an IMS variant. This field is displayed on all the Dialog Screens except if the MONITOFF option (one transaction code for each Screen, no generated monitor) option is specified.
Map external name
This field is unavailable on a Dialog.

It is the name of the map file (.bms, .mfs, or .map) generated from this instance. The generated file name of the map can then differ from the instance name. If this field is not entered, the map name is the instance name.

For CICS, you indicate the map set name.

For IMS, you indicate the format name.

For TANDEM, you indicate the name of the associated server for an R-type Screen (REQUESTER).

Screen size: number of lines
This field indicates the number of lines per Screen. This number must range between 1 and 62 inclusive. The Default value is 24 at the Dialog level.
Screen size: number of columns
This field indicates the number of columns per Screen. This number must range between 1 and 160 inclusive. The default value is 80 at the Dialog level.

The format (number of lines and number of columns) specifies the overall dimensions of the Screen.

When Screen "X" calls Screen "Y", the size of Screen "Y" is the size that is specified on its Definition tab. The relative positioning of the Data Element immediately following the called Screen therefore depends on the format of the called Screen.

Tabs initialization value
This field indicates the number of tabulation points per line. The default value is 1 at the Dialog level. The maximum number authorized is 50.

It is used to automatically position the Data Elements on the screen. The tabulation points are the invisible points on the screen, which divide each line into equal parts.

Each Data Element for which no absolute positioning is indicated is automatically moved to the next available tabulation point.

Character initialization value
In this field, you specify the default initial value for the variable Data Elements called in the Screen.

This initial value is set in the program associated with the Screen.

Help character for screen
The character you enter here is to be used to request documentation on a screen. You can enter any character, left-aligned.
It is recommended to use this character only for the call of screen help. The documentation request is automatically recognized by the generated program
Note: If the Generated language specified in the Library Definition tab is COBOL II or 85, the tests generated in F8150 to detect the characters for documentation request are carried out on the first character of the field only. They are not carried out on the whole field as it is the case for standard COBOL.
For the environments which authorize the use of PF keys, you can enter a specific PF key to call the documentation associated with the screen.
Note: A PF key and a character cannot be used together for documentation requests in the same Dialog.
Depending on the type of COBOL to generate, some specificities are added:
  • IBM CICS, IBM IMS, AS/400 variants: If you enter a character here, the numeric fields are not generated as such at the map level.
  • CICS variants: The following values can also be entered:
    • A1 for the AP1 function key,
    • A2 for the AP2 function key,
    • EN for the Enter key,
    • 00 for the Clear key.
  • BULL multi-screens variant: PF keys can be used on 3270 screens. They work as in an IBM environment.
  • TANDEM variant: Entering a character is not authorized. Only the values ranging from 01 to 32, corresponding to F1 to SF16, can be used.
  • DEC/VAX variant: Values 02, 03, 06 to 11 and 14 to 20 can be used for the PF keys.
  • MICRO FOCUS variant: Values ranging from 01 to 24 can be used for the PF keys.
  • HP3000 variant: The help function can only be activated by a character.
Help character for element
You can enter any character in this field. It must be left-aligned.

It is recommended to reserve this character for field help.

The documentation request is automatically recognized by the generated program.

The character for documentation request at the Data Element level is taken into account.
Note: If the Generated language specified in the Library Definition tab is COBOL II or 85, the tests generated in F8150 to detect the characters for documentation request are carried out on the first character of the field only. They are not carried out on the whole field as it is the case for standard COBOL.
For the environments which authorize the use of PF keys, you can enter a specific PF key to call the documentation associated with a field.
Note: A PF key and a character cannot be used together for documentation requests in the same Dialog.

The documentation request is automatically recognized by the generated program when the user moves the cursor to a an element and presses the PF key.

Depending on the type of COBOL to generate, some specificities are added:
  • IBM CICS, IBM IMS, AS/400 variants: If the field is coded with a specific character, numeric fields are not generated as such at the map level.
  • CICS variants: The following values can also be used:
    • A1 for the AP1 function key,
    • A2 for the AP2 function key,
    • EN for the Enter key,
    • 00 for the Clear key.
  • BULL multi-screen variant: PF keys can be used if the screens are of the 3270 type. They work as in an IBM environment.
  • TANDEM variant: Entering a character is not authorized. Only the values ranging from 01 to 32, corresponding to F1 to SF16, can be used.
  • DEC/VAX variant: Values 01, 02, 03, 06 to 11 and 14 to 20 can be used for the PF keys.
  • MICRO FOCUS variant: Values ranging from 01 to 24 can be used for the PF keys.
  • HP3000 variant: The help function can be activated by a character only. Since the screen reception does not authorize cursor positioning, it would be impossible to find which element was selected.

Intensity attributes

You must select the intensity attributes for five types of fields: label, display, entry, error message, and error field.

They can be selected at the Dialog level and defaulted or overridden at the Screen level. The possible values for each attribute are the same whatever the field type:
  • Default value,
  • N: Normal,
  • B: Bright: The field is highlighted,
  • D: Dark: The field is hidden.
Label
Select the intensity attribute of label fields.
Display
Select the intensity attribute of the display fields of the Screen
Input
Select the intensity attribute of the input fields of the Screen
Error message
Select the intensity attribute of the error messages of the Screen
Error field
Select the intensity attribute of the error fields of the Screen

Presentation attributes

You must select the presentation attributes for five types of fields: label, display, entry, error message, and error field.

They can be selected at the Dialog level and defaulted or overridden at the Screen level. The possible values for each attribute are the same whatever the field type:
  • Default value
  • N: Normal
  • B: Blinking
  • R: Reversed video
  • U: Underlined
Label
Select the presentation attribute of label fields.
Display
Select the presentation attribute of the display fields of the Screen
Input
Select the presentation attribute of the input fields of the Screen
Error message
Select the presentation attribute of the error messages of the Screen
Error field
Select the presentation attribute of the error fields of the Screen

Color attributes

You select here the color attributes for five types of fields: label, display, entry, error message, and error field.

They be selected at the Dialog level and defaulted or overridden at the Screen level. The possible values for each attribute are the same whatever the field type:
  • W: Normal
  • B: Blue
  • R: Red
  • P: Pink
  • Y: Yellow
  • G: Green
  • T: Turquoise
Label
Select the color attribute of label fields.
Display
Select the color attribute of the display fields of the Screen
Input
Select the color attribute of the input fields of the Screen
Error message
Select the color attribute of the error messages of the Screen
Error field
Select the color attribute of the error fields of the Screen

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