ProvideX NOMADS Reference ProvideX Ver. 4.20

Transcription

1 Welcome to the ProvideX NOMADS Reference ProvideX Ver Introduction: NOMADS is Sage Canada s acronym for the ProvideX Non-Procedural Object Module Application Development System which is bundled with the ProvideX core logic set (the Language / interpreter) and fully integrated with our *IT GUI screen editor for programmers. The ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide is intended primarily as a resource for application programmers and analysts. It contains technical information to help you minimize the amount of time object-oriented GUI (graphical user interface) development takes. When you use our NOMADS toolset to build your GUI applications, you can separate your data, logic, presentation text and images into reusable segments and have NOMADS provide you with a common data manager for consistent access to a variety of data files. NOMADS gives you a generic error-handling interface and event-driven programming capabilities. You can integrate NOMADS applications with other types of applications and port them to other systems (for instance, for use in traditional UNIX environments). Before you begin, you'll find it helpful to familiarize yourself with the Glossary and list of descriptive Conventions, next. NOTE that this is a BETA release of the ProvideX NOMADS Reference. The information contained herein is subject to change. 1 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 1

2 Glossary Glossary Description: This glossary includes some of the common terms used in ProvideX NOMADS and in this manual. Term controls CTL Data Class Expression File Maintenance Object Fixed values "folder" Meaning Controls are objects you can include in a NOMADS Panel to display information, PERFORM / EXECUTE a piece of code, CALL a program or Link to another panel. NOMADS supports both ProvideX common Control objects (such as buttons, drop boxes, scrollbars...) and external Controls, such as VBX applications and bitmaps. See: Drawing and Defining Controls, p. 34 Controls: Editing {Properties}, p. 39. CTL values, e.g. 10 = the <F10> function key, -1004= the <Home> key. ProvideX normally handles all negative CTL values internally. See: Panel > User CTLs, p. 118 Negative CTL Definitions in the ProvideX Language Reference Data Classifications are standardized definitions of common data elements and Controls. See Dictionary > Classes, p Values in Expressions With a string value In Expression and/or when a format in this manual includes a string variable in the syntax, you can normally substitute a string expression consisting of variables, literals, functions, operators...e.g. %COMPANY$+"AR". When you use string variables in string expressions, subscripts and substrings are allowed, e.g. CUSTOMER$(15,4). With a numeric In Expression, you can normally substitute a numeric expression consisting of variables, literals, functions, operators... For example, you could use HFN or NUM(A1$)*3-2. When you use numeric variables in numeric expressions, subscripts are allowed, e.g. COST(4). NOTE: Exceptions and valid values are stated when there are restrictions on the use of Expressions (e.g. where only a variable name or Fixed value is allowed). See individual formats and field information for details. A File Maintenance panel created for you by NOMADS so that you can generate File Maintenance panels for normalized files. Select the logical filename of your masterfile from the Data Dictionary and the fields to be displayed on your File Maintenance panel. See Objects > File Maintenance Panels, p When the File Maintenance panel is invoked at RUN-time, your user can update the specified fields to maintain a file (e.g. a master file). When NOMADS gives you the option to toggle Fixed ON and enter a value, use a string or numeric literal as in C:\invoice_upd;due_date. With Fixed toggled ON, there is no need for quotation marks. (If you do include quotation marks, NOMADS interprets these as part of your literal text.) In descriptions of the ProvideX NOMADS screens in this manual, the term "folder" is sometimes used in place of "NOMADS subpanel". (Subpanels related to a main panel look like folders. See Tab Selector: Folder View, p. 114.) 2 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 2

3 Term Group Message Library Reference Panel Object Query List Object Meaning You can group Controls and graphic objects in your panels. A group is a name with which you can associate Control objects to simplify showing, hiding, disabling and enabling multiple Controls (and, for Multi lines, locking and unlocking) using the *WINGRP Utility To Manipulate Control Groups, p Note that an individual Control or graphic object can belong to one or more groups. A Message Library is a free-standing Library file containing a series of text messages. You can define your Message Library References using NOMADS Message Manager, p. 228 and then gain access to them in both your NOMADS applications and ProvideX programs. For instance, in defining a List View Control, you can toggle the Message Library Reference setting ON and either specify a Reference or {Browse Library} to display the Message Library Reference screen. There, you can select a reference to use for your List View Header Title field or {Browse} further to make a Language file selection. Basically a GUI screen layout for a window / Panel. To begin, NOMADS gives you a blank form as a workspace where you can design your Panel Object. You can select from a variety of Controls (e.g. buttons, multi_lines, folder subpanels, text, etc.) to include in your Panel. You can also define the physical properties of each panel in the Panel Header. See also: Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 Header: Defining a Panel, p. 26 When your Panel is invoked at RUN-time, your users can activate a portion of your application (e.g. an update) by using the panel s Controls (e.g. by pressing a button). NOMADS automatically associates Process Logic with each Control in a panel object and executes your Post Create Logic for all the Controls in a panel whenever the panel is invoked. (Exception: Button, p. 40) executes your On Focus Logic for each successive Control as the input focus changes from Control to Control executes your On Select Logic for the Control when a user activates the Control (e.g. by pressing a button, selecting an item from a list, changing input values...). A Query List Object is a Query-like definition that is used by Smart List Boxes to autoload a list of records from a ProvideX data file or a database table. Smart List NOTE: The Smart List Box with Query List Objects is Sage Canada s add-on package 20005, installed separately from NOMADS. See our website for more information. Smart List Boxes are List or Drop boxes which auto-load a list of records from a ProvideX data file or a database table based on a Query definition. You don t have to code your own load routines. You can also trigger Smart List Boxes to load selected records based on changed values in specified Trigger variables. You can use the Smart List Box / Query List Objects with: List Boxes: Standard, Formatted, List View, Tree View, p. 60 Drop Box, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 3

4 Term Query Object Meaning A Query display form created for you by NOMADS so that you can generate a Query Object. Select a data file and the fields to be presented. NOMADS creates the panel displaying a list of selected records from your data file. See Objects > Query Objects, p When the Query panel is invoked at RUN-time, your user can: view the list in the record display area using arrow and page up/down keys for the vertical scroll bar. (NOMADS automatically provides a horizontal scroll bar, too, if data record width exceeds query object width.) choose a starting point or a different sort key, or switch to a maintenance program or subquery. (If a column supports a subquery, the {query} button is enabled when you click on the column title.) select a record from the list by pressing <Enter> or double-clicking the mouse. The Query returns an associated value as the first argument of the object. For example, it will return the record key or your specified field as the first argument (i.e. in the reserved variable ARG_1$) of the object. If the Return Value is blank, NOMADS returns the value contained in the first column of the Query. print a hard copy of the record list. 4 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 4

5 Conventions Glossary Symbols in Use Format Conventions: The following conventions have been applied to the syntax Formats for each command in the ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide. (Exceptions are noted for individual commands where the symbols are "real", i.e. part of the syntax.) Symbol(s) Meaning... Dots indicate the continuation of a list of elements. < > Less-than and greater-than signs enclosing a value: In Formats: You should use your own system s value. For instance, in the format <path$>\pvx\pvxwin32.exe *NOMADS you would use your own pathname as in: C:\YOUR_PATH\PVX\PVXWIN32.EXE *NOMADS In Instructions: The < > signs enclose keystrokes, e.g. the <Enter> key. [ ] In Formats: Square brackets enclose optional elements. For example, with PROCESS "query_name","[object_library]",starting$, you can omit the object_library filename and use a NULL value, i.e. "". { } In Formats: Braces enclose a list of elements if only one item is required. You must select one item. For example, with {yes no}, you must select either yes or no. In Instructions: The braces enclose icon or button selections. Vertical bars pipes separate a series of possible values as in {yes no}. When a single character in a word in this manual is underlined, that indicates that in NOMADS the character is a hot key. 5 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 5

6 NOMADS Overview Overview Description: The NOMADS overview includes sections on: Installation Notes, p. 7 NOMADS Components, p. 8 Application Flow, p. 10 NOMADS Main Menu, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 6

7 Installation Notes Overview To Activate NOMADS Description: NOMADS is bundled with Sage Canada s ProvideX Language / interpreter. Install ProvideX to install NOMADS. See the ProvideX Installation & Configuration Guides for more information. NOTE: NOMADS is a development toolset for use in WINDOWS 95 / 98 / 2000 / NT enviroments. You can also initiate your NOMADS GUI applications from other environments (e.g. from a UNIX server) using our WindX add-on product to direct action to a WINDOWS client machine. Activate NOMADS After ProvideX is installed, there are several ways to activate NOMADS and display the NOMADS Main Menu, p. 11. A few of the possible formats are listed below. Formats: 1 WINDOWS Command Line <your_path$>\pvxwin32.exe[\pvx.ini$] *NOMADS 2 In ProvideX: RUN Directive RUN "*NOMADS" 3 UNIX Command Line <your_path$>/pvx/pvx *NOMADS Where = <your_path$> PVXWIN32 pvx.ini$ *NOMADS Your pathname to ProvideX. We recommend you use your absolute path (a string literal rather than a relative path, string expression or variable). ProvideX 32-bit startup program in WINDOWS environments (in UNIX: pvx/pvx) Optional. Name of your ProvideX INI file (Ver. 4.10). For WINDOWS command only. Default: PVX.INI. The NOMADS application development tool kit. The asterisk is part of the syntax. Note that a password has been assigned to NOMADS programs (ProvideX Ver. 4.11), so that the programs will not appear during a program trace. The password for these programs is "password". For more information on the ProvideX startup command, see Command Line, Launching ProvideX in the ProvideX Language Reference Manual. 7 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 7

8 NOMADS Components Overview NOMADS Components Description: The NOMADS toolset has many features and approaches to help you simplify development tasks: Use our NOMADS components to segment your programming logic and compartmentalize data, presentation text and graphics. Localize and simplify changes to your applications. Use a common data manager for consistent access to data files. NOMADS allows you to run graphics and character application components concurrently. Take advantage of our generic error-handling interface. Design event-driven I/O applications, complete with program name references embedded in your data files. The chart below lists the fundamental components of NOMADS: Component Panel Designer To Design GUI screen layouts (Panel Objects) using a series of Control objects with associated logic. This component is integrated with the ProvideX GUI program editor so that you can use them interactively. See Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 and The *IT Editor, p Data Dictionary Create and maintain data files with consistent file structures. See Dictionary, p You can Data Classes Query Manager Message Library Security Manager File Maintenance separate your IOLISTs from your program code create and maintain embedded Data Dictionaries dynamically, file-by-file create and use normalized file structures meeting ODBC SQL standards. You are currently limited to using the NOMADS Data Dictionary for normalized files (i.e. data files with a single record format). Create and maintain Data Classifications to simplify definition of common data elements and Controls. See Dictionary > Classes, p Create on-line Query Objects, including relational queries, using the ProvideX Data Dictionary, your own manual file definitions or database Tables. See Objects > Query Objects, p The Query Manager creates both standard Query and Query List Objects. See the Glossary for more information. Create and maintain text messages outside of your applications. You ll find this feature particularly useful if you re supporting multilingual environments. See Message Manager, p Set up security for Control objects (and, as of Ver. 4.20, at the panel Header level) through user IDs and security classifications. This feature is integrated with the Panel Designer. See Security, p. 222 and (Properties}: Security, p. 38. Create on-line File Maintenance panels and programs (for data files with embedded Data Dictionaries). See Objects > File Maintenance Panels, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 8

9 Component To Query List Object NOTE: The Smart List Box with Query List Objects is Sage Canada s add-on package 20005, installed separately from NOMADS. A Query List Object is a Query-like definition you can use to create Smart List Boxes which auto-load a list of records from a ProvideX data file or a database table. You don t have to code your own load routines. You can also trigger Smart List Boxes to load selected records based on changed values in specified trigger variables. You can use the Smart List Box / Query List Objects with: List Boxes: Standard, Formatted, List View, Tree View, p. 60 Drop Box, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 9

10 Application Flow A NOMADS application consists of a series of interrelated or linked screens or functions commonly referred to as objects or panels. Three types of objects are presently supported by NOMADS: Panel Objects, Query Objects and File Maintenance Objects. See the Glossary, p. 2 for detailed definitions of the three types. You can determine application flow and link objects through combinations of your NOMADS applications and your programs and commands. NOMADS lets you associate Link and Jumpto commands with your Controls when you define your NOMADS Panel objects. Jumpto differs from Link in that Jumpto will pass any common variables to the linked screen. You can select these commands in NOMADS from applicable dropdown lists when you define your Panel Header and various Controls. You can also invoke objects through your programs by using ProvideX commands, directives, and utilities. See also: Header: Defining a Panel, p. 26 Controls: Editing {Properties}, p. 39 Programming Interface: Library Objects, p. 165 Example: This example invokes a Sales Panel through a program and passes two arguments PROCESS "SALES","LIBRARY.EN",SALES_ID$,STR(SALES_AMT) You can pass up to 20 arguments in your PROCESS statement. These are available in your NOMADS Panel as the reserved variables ARG_1$ to ARG_20$. In the example above, NOMADS will load the value from the variable SALES_ID$ into ARG_1$ and the value from STR(SALES_AMT)into ARG_2$ for use in the SALES Panel. 10 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 10

11 NOMADS Main Menu Overview Main Menu Description: The introductory NOMADS screen displays the Main Menu bar. When a character in a menu selection or field option is underscored in this manual, that indicates that you can use it in NOMADS with the <Alt> key to make your selection, e.g. to select Library use <Alt-L> as a hot key. This manual is organized around the NOMADS Main Menu structure and its associated dropdown menus. The structure is echoed below to help you find your topic in the manual: Main Menu Dropdown Menu Library New Open Bulk edit Compare Merge 1: NOMADLIB.EN 2:... 3:... Dictionary Maintenance Classes Security Classifications Users See also Library, p. 12 and the following subsections: Library Object Selection, p. 13 (New, Open, <#+Name>) Library > Library Defaults, p. 18 Library > Assign Groups, p. 22 Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 Objects > Query Objects, p. 125 Objects > File Maintenance Panels, p. 149 Programming Interface: Library Objects, p. 165 Library Utilities: Overview, p. 157 (Compare Bulk edit Merge Export Import) Dictionary, p. 180 and the following subsections: Dictionary > Maintenance, p. 181 Dictionary > Classes, p. 204 Security, p. 222 Options Help Quit System Defaults Message Manager Group Assignment Change Directory Contents Security About Options, p. 225 System Defaults, p. 226 Message Manager, p. 228 NOMADS Group Assignment, p. 234 Change Directory, p. 235 Gives you direct access to NOMADS Help files and your NOMADS version number. Lets you exit from NOMADS. (You can also click on the WINDOWS close icon {X} at the top right of the screen.) 11 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 11

12 Library Main Menu Option Object Library Description: The first option on your main NOMADS menu is Library. A library consists of a data file containing one or more Panel / Query objects. Main Menu Dropdown Menu Notes Library New Open Bulk edit Compare Merge Options give you direct access to new and current libraries, as well as the utilities available in NOMADS. You can create or edit Panel Objects, Query Objects and File Maintenance Objects for inclusion in your libraries. 1: NOMADLIB.EN 2: \WINDX\WINDX.EN 3:... See Library Object Selection, p. 13 for information on New, Open or <#: library_name> options Library Utilities: Overview, p. 157 for information on Bulk edit, Compare and Merge 12 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 12

13 Library Object Selection Library Object Selection Description: After you select a Library, NOMADS displays its Library Object Selection screen with your Library name as part of the title bar. If it s an existing library file, a listbox displays any Panel, Query or File Maintenance objects the Library already contains, with each object on the list identified by name, type code, title, revision date and designer s user ID. If You re New to NOMADS: If you re new to NOMADS, the instructions in the chart below tell you how to initiate Library Object Selection: Main Menu Dropdown Menu Instructions Library New Open Bulk edit Compare Merge 1: NOMADLIB.EN 2: \WINDX\WINDX.EN 3... (up to 9) Select a Library file: NOMADS gives you quick access to the last 9 opened Libraries (a numbered list). You can select a filename or number from this list to identify your Library. If you select New or Open instead, a Development Library window appears so that you can identify your file. Complete the information by supplying the filename (e.g. C:\MY_PATH\PROJECT_1.EN) or {Browse} to select a Library file. In each case, the Library Object Selection screen is displayed next. 13 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 13

14 Menu The chart below describes your menu options for Library Object Selection. Library Object Selection Objects Menu Options You can create or modify objects. Either: Enter the Name of your New object OR Select an existing object. Define your object s type (using dropdown menu, toolbar or button selection): Panel Object Query Object File Maint Next, NOMADS displays a screen where you can define your Panel, Query or File Maintenance object. Edit Selecting Multiple Objects: You can only Edit one object at a time, but, as of Ver. 4.20, you can select more than one object for operations like Copy and Delete by highlighting each object in turn and using <Shift-Mouse-click> to make selections. See also: Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 Objects > Query Objects, p. 125 Objects > File Maintenance Panels, p. 149 NOMADS displays a design workspace with tools and options you can use to edit your selected Object. See also: Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 Objects > Query Objects, p. 125 Objects > File Maintenance Panels, p. 149 Also accessible using the {edit} icon on the toolbar or a <double-mouse-click> for a highlighted item on the list. Copy Displays a Copy Screen, p. 16 where you can copy the selected object(s) within / between specified libraries. Also accessible using {Copy Object(s)} in Button View or the {copy} icon on the toolbar. Delete A message box lets you confirm / cancel the deletion of the selected object(s) from the current Library. Also accessible using {Delete Object(s)} in Button View or the {delete} icon on the toolbar. Test Displays an interactive screen where you can Test a selected panel. Also accessible using {Test} in Button View or the {test} icon on the toolbar. Print Note: To exit Test mode and return to Library Object Selection, use the <F4> key or, if set, the WINDOWS close icon {X} at top right. Displays your Print Panels, p. 17 options. You can print your selected <Library Defaults>, panels, menu bars, CTL definitions and expanded element names (Ver. 4.03). Also accessible using {Print} in Button View or the {print} icon on the toolbar (Ver. 4.20). 14 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 14

15 Library Object Selection Library Utilities Menu Options Dropdown menu options. Also accessible using buttons in Button View or the associated icons on the toolbar. Library Defaults. See Library > Library Defaults, p. 18 (User Aid, Font/Clr folders). Assign Groups. See Library > Assign Groups, p. 22. (Add / Drop Controls to group them on a Panel object.) Dropdown menu options. Also accessible using buttons in Button View or the associated icons on the toolbar. Compare panels / libraries Bulk Edit libraries Merge panels from input library into output library. Export panel to text file Import panel from text file See Library Utilities: Overview, p. 157 Views Help Quit Warning: There is no audit trail for operations like Merge and Import. Before you begin, use Compare if you need an audit trail. We also advise you to back up your files before you use the utilities. Dropdown menu: Button View Toolbar View Menubar View Displays default NOMADS Help. Menu bar option, exits to NOMADS Main Menu. Other methods to exit: Click {Stop / Exit} in Button or Toolbar View Press the <F4> key Click on the WINDOWS close icon {X}, top right of panel 15 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 15

16 Copy Screen Library New Name(s) Overwrite Warning If toggled ON: Button Options Library Object Selection > Copy Settings You can select a Library name from a dropdown list of the last 9 libraries opened, or you can {Browse Library} to select an Output Library. NOMADS displays the name(s) of the item(s) you select to Copy From. Specify the name(s) of the item(s) you re copying To. NOMADS toggles a check box ON when an item s copy is Done. Options include: NOMADS warns you if your Copy operation is going to overwrite an object, a menu bar, etc., and gives you options to confirm, cancel or continue. {Copy} to trigger the operation {Exit} to return to Library Object Selection. The WINDOWS close icon {X} also lets you exit. The Help {?} icon to gain direct access to NOMADS Help. 16 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 16

17 Print Panels Select Library Available Panels Selected Panels Library Object Selection > Print Settings You can select a Library name from a dropdown list of the last 9 libraries opened, or you can {Browse} to Select Input Library. The list of items Available in the selected Library for printing includes its <Library Defaults>, existing objects, menu bars... Use one of the Button Options listed below to add, drop or print items on this list. {Add} {Add All} {Drop} {Drop All} Highlight a Text File on your selected Library s list of Available Text files and press {Add}. NOMADS moves the selection from the list of Available selections to the list of Selected Panels. Press this to add all currently listed Available selections to the list of Selected Panels. Highlight a panel on your selected Library s list of Selected Panels and press {Drop}. NOMADS moves the panel from the list of Selected Panels to the list of Available items. Press this to drop all currently listed Selected Panels. NOMADS moves the panels to the list of Available items. {Print} Press this button to print all Selected items. Other Button Options Other options include: {Help} to gain direct access to NOMADS Help {Cancel} to return to Library Object Selection. (The WINDOWS close icon {X} also lets you exit Print Panels.) 17 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 17

18 Library > Library Defaults Library Object Selection Library Defaults Description: When you re working in Library Object Selection, p. 13, you can set Library Defaults for your selected Library s file location and font/colour attributes. NOMADS uses these defaults during processing of the selected Library s associated Panels and Query objects. You can override most Library Defaults either in the Panel Headers when you design individual objects or by defining the {Properties} of individual Controls. See also: Header: Defining a Panel, p. 26 Drawing and Defining Controls, p. 34 If You re New to NOMADS: To display the Library Defaults screen, select: Main Menu Dropdown Menu In Library Object Selection Dropdown Menu Library Identify your library: Library Library Defaults New Assign Groups Open... 1: NOMADLIB.EN... The Library Defaults screen has two folders (User Aid and Font/Clr) where you can set up the default properties for each of your object libraries. The charts that follow describe your folders and settings in Library Defaults. 18 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 18

19 User Aid Folder Library Description Help Reference: Fixed Library Defaults: Settings Display only. (Locked field.) Pathname of current Library file. Your freeform description to identify the Library. System name of your Help reference file. Your users can press <Shift-F1> to view the Help file you specify here. With Fixed toggled ON, either use a string for your Help filename, e.g. C:\MY_PATH\NOMADS.HLP or LREF.HLP, or {Browse} to select a filename. For Help Reference in Expression, see the next row of this table. Keyword Reference PopUp {Test} Toggle ON and fill in the blank field. Specify a string keyword as the starting position (index entry) in your Help file, e.g. Introduction. Quotation marks are not necessary. Toggle ON and specify the starting position by reference point. For instance, 123, a context string value for the SET_FOCUS directive in the ProvideX Language Reference, i.e., the index entry for the topic in the Help file. Toggle ON to display help as a pop-up window instead of an independent window. You can test your settings. Help Reference: In Expression With Expression ON, use a simple expression or string variable to identify your Help file. If you use a simple expression, you must enclose it in quotation marks. You can set the starting point and window type (independent or popup) in the expression. Format: Define Help help_file$;[# $]{keyword$ index} where the optional # character (default) defines the window type as independent and the optional $ character defines it as a popup. Examples: Start at Keyword LREF.HLP;INTRODUCTION LREF.HELP;#INTRODUCTION Help file is displayed in an independent window. Position: at the string keyword / starting index (in this case, the start of the Introduction section). At Reference Point LREF.HLP;123 LREF.HLP;#123 Help file is displayed in an independent window. Position: numeric reference point (in this case, the context string value 123 for the SET_FOCUS directive). PopUp Window: Use $ to display the Help file in a popup window. For example: LREF.HLP;$123 At reference point (123) LREF.HLP;$INTRODUCTION At keyword (Introduction) Message Lib Directory Default Message Library NOMADS is to use when processing objects. Either {Browse} to select or enter the Message Lib name. If the library name doesn t exist, you ll be asked if you want to create the Message Lib. See also Message Manager, p Directory NOMADS is to use when processing your object. Enter the name or {Browse} to select. Before processing an object, NOMADS changes to the directory defined in this field. When the object is closed, NOMADS switches back to your home working directory. 19 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 19

20 User Aid Folder Prefix User DD I/F Library Defaults: Settings Prefix NOMADS is to use when processing your object. Before processing an object, NOMADS changes the ProvideX PREFIX to the one defined in this field. When the object is closed, NOMADS changes back to the original PREFIX. Obsolete. (Field in NOMADS versions before Ver Included for completeness only.) 20 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 20

21 Font/Clr Folder Font Specification Library Defaults: Settings Font Default Font for all objects in the current Library. Override in the panel Header or in individual Controls. Choose from a dropdown list of available fonts. NOMADS default is <Default Graphic Font>. If you opt for <Default Graphic Font> and you have not set a default graphic font (in an INI file or using the GF Default Graphic Font mnemonic in ProvideX) NOMADS will use a font named "System" internally. Size Choose from Font-specific dropdown lists of Sizes. Examples: <Default Graphic Font> sizes are Quarter, Half, Regular and Double Arial font sizes are Regular, Double or range: 4 Points to 127 Points. Alignment Options Color Options Alignment for all objects in the current Library. Override in the panel Header or in individual Controls (if alignment is available: there are exceptions). Toggle ON to choose from Left Justify, Centre and Right Justify. You can also opt to use WordWrap. Default Foreground and Background colours for all text regions for all objects in the current Library. Select from dropdown lists of valid colours. As the default, NOMADS uses the "System" <Default>. You can override Library level colours at the object s Header level or in individual Controls. NOTE: The Color Options apply only to the display text and text region. If, for instance, you have a gray folder Tab Selection, with text Background=White, and Foreground=Red, your Tab Title (in red text on a white text region) appears as a patch superimposed on your gray Tab. Attributes Font attributes for all text on all objects in the current Library. You can override most of these in the panel Header or in individual Controls (exception: Use 3D). You can toggle the following font attributes ON/OFF in Library Defaults: Bold Italics Use 3D: NOMADS default is ON for all Controls for all objects unless you override this, here in Library Defaults or in ProvideX itself (by turning OFF your 3D System Parameter and setting your 2D Mnemonic ON). Then, NOMADS will set 2D ON at RUN-time.) Underscore all characters Underscore all & ed characters: When defining hot keys for Text Controls (e.g. &Customer results in Customer) when the text is displayed on a Panel. This attribute must be turned ON or the ampersand is displayed instead of the underscore. ANSI characters (Default. When you toggle this OFF, NOMADS lets you use other character sets, such as Wingdings.) Other Options The Library Defaults screen also offers you options to: view on-line {Help} switch between User Aid and Font/Clr folders save your settings as {Ok} and return to Library Object Selection or {Cancel} changes and return to Library Object Selection 21 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 21

22 Library > Assign Groups Library Object Selection Group Assignments Description: You can assign selected Controls to a Group Name for your selected Library and Panel. A group is a name with which you can associate Control objects to simplify showing, hiding, disabling and enabling multiple Controls (and, for Multi lines, locking and unlocking) on your Panels using the *WINGRP Utility To Manipulate Control Groups, p Any Control or graphic object can belong to one or more groups. You can modify the Group Assignments at the Panel level for a selected Panel or in the Group Definitions screen at the Control level. See also: Panel > Group Assignment, p (Properties}: Groups, p. 37 If You re New to NOMADS: Start from Library Object Selection, p. 13 and select Library > Assign Groups (dropdown menu, Button View or Toolbar icon). Next, the Group Assignment screen is displayed. See the chart below for details. Group Assignments In Library Object Selection: Settings Library Select your Library from a dropdown list or {Browse} to make a selection. By default, the dropdown list shows the last 9 libraries opened. Panel Group {Assign} {Drop} {Ok} {Cancel} {Help} Select your Panel name from a dropdown list. Name a new Group or select an existing one. After you set up your Library, Panel and Group: Highlight the Control(s) on your selected panel s available Controls to be Assigned and {Assign} it to the current Group. NOMADS moves the Control(s) from the list of available Controls to the list of Controls Assigned to Group. As of Ver. 4.20, you can select more than one object for operations like {Assign} by using <Shift-Mouse-click>. Highlight the Control(s) on your selected panel s Controls Assigned to Group and {Drop} it from the current Group. NOMADS moves the Control(s) back to the list of Controls to be Assigned. As of Ver. 4.20, you can select more than one object for operations like {Drop} by using the WINDOWS selection keys, <Shift-Mouse-click> or <Ctrl-Mouse-click>. The Group is not updated until you hit {Ok}. To {Cancel} changes that have not been updated and return to Library Object Selection. To gain access to NOMADS {Help}. 22 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 22

23 Objects > Panel Designer NOMADS Panel Designer Description: The NOMADS Panel Designer lets you create and modify GUI screen layouts (Panel Objects) using: portable, reusable common Control objects (such as buttons, check boxes, radio buttons, drop and list boxes, scroll bars...) external Control objects (e.g. VBXes) and bitmaps event processing and field validation application menus dynamic changes to Control properties in your programs (e.g., to reset position, size, font, alignment, status signals... and more). This component is integrated with the ProvideX *IT program editor so that you can use them interactively. If You re New to NOMADS: In Library Object Selection, p. 13, name / select your Panel. Then choose Panel Object to display the NOMADS Panel Designer. The screen s title bar (NOMADS - Panel:) lists your Panel s name and the path to the Library that contains it. Use the blank Panel / workspace in this screen to design your object. If you re modifying an existing Panel Object, NOMADS displays your existing Controls and layout in the workspace and lists existing Controls in a drop box on the toolbar. (Your workspace and drop box are blank for a new Panel.) Panel Sizing (Ver. 4.12) You can resize a Panel by using the mouse to drag on the edges of the window. You can also use the keyboard to resize or move an existing object. Two keyboard modes are available, based on the hot key you use. You can toggle between Moving and Sizing Modes using the <Space Bar>. To use Sizing Mode, press either <Ctrl-down_arrow> or <Ctrl-up_arrow>. To use Moving Mode, press either <Shift- Down_arrow> or <Shift-Up_arrow>. This will also work if multiple controls are selected. Your changes here will override the System Defaults, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 23

24 Menu The chart that follows describes your menu options in the NOMADS Panel Designer and tells you where to find more information in this manual. Use the keyboard or mouse to design your screen layout, select Controls, and define Panel Header information, defaults and associated logic. Selecting Multiple Objects: You can only Edit one Control object at a time, but, as of Ver. 4.20, you can select more than one Control for operations like Copy, Delete, Align or Distribute, etc., by highlighting each Control in turn and using <Shift-Mouse-click> to make selections. You can use <Ctrl-A> to select all Controls. Panel Designer Options on Dropdown Menu / Toolbar Panel Header or {Head}. Edit Header: Defining a Panel, p. 26. (For Drawing and Defining Controls, p. 34: {Properties} on toolbar.) Copy to Copy current Panel(s) to another Library or a new Library name User CTLS or {Ctls}. See Panel > User CTLs, p. 118 Print or {Print} details of all Control objects on Panel (Ver. 4.12). Menus Define a menu bar for this Panel. See Defining Menu Bars, p. 120 Group Assignment Define groups of Controls. See Panel > Group Assignment, p. 122 Save Test or {Save} to save but not close the Panel or {Test} the Panel. (Use <F4> to exit Test mode) Close Close the Panel, with option to save/abandon changes. Delete Panel Delete current Panel(s) Edit Undo <Alt-Bsp> or {undo} icon. Undo up to the last 50 changes, one at a time. (The MEMORY file NOMADS uses for this function is limited to BSZ=8192.) Delete Object or <Delete> to delete selected object(s) Size Resize selected object(s) Move Move selected object(s) Paste <Ins> Paste cut or copied object(s). (Disabled if nothing on the clipboard.) Cut <Shift-Del> Cut selected object(s) Copy <Shift-Ins> Copy selected object(s) Block Paste or <Ctrl-Insert>. Merge another Panel into the current one. You can also paste individual Controls, Menu Bars... from a selected Panel to the current Panel (ver. 4.02) Align or Distribute To space multiple selected Controls uniformly on your Panel. See Align or Distribute, p. 36. Grid Alignment Change grid alignment for current Panel Show grid Display grid lines on the Panel Tab order or {Tabs} on toolbar. See Defining <Tab> Order, p. 123 Re: Size/Move/Copy-Paste, see also Drawing and Defining Controls, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 24

25 Panel Designer Options on Dropdown Menu / Toolbar Controls Select the Control type you wish to create or edit. See Drawing and Defining Controls, p. 34 and Controls: Editing {Properties}, p. 39. Help Quit Button Single button your user can press to perform a task Radio Button Group of buttons / options where user can select one Check box Check box(es) user can toggle ON / OFF List box User views items as a list. Drop box Dropdown list of values where user can select one Multi line Input field where user can enter information (unlimited if no length is set) Grid Columns and rows of cells where user can enter information Data Classes Standardized Data Class definitions (Ver. 4.12) Standard Text Font for display text (headings, field labels) = standard system default Fonted Text Available WINDOWS fonts for display text (titles, labels...) Image A bitmap or multimedia item to display on your Panel Boxes Frames to group sections of your Panel visually for your user Shapes Shapes such as Pies, Arcs, Polygons... (Ver. 4.20) Vertical Sbar Vertical scrollbar for your user s up / down movement Horizontal Sbar Horizontal scrollbar for your user s side to side movement Tab Selector Relate subpanels to a main Panel: subpanels look like folders with tabs External Tool Include VBXes on your Panel Using the Designer Quick access to the NOMADS Panel Designer Help files. Edit Keys A list of the standard edit keystrokes you can use in NOMADS. About The NOMADS version number. Exits to NOMADS Library Object Selection screen. (Same as using WINDOWS Close icon {X} at the top right of the screen.) 25 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 25

26 Header: Defining a Panel Panel Design Panel Header Definition Description: Use the NOMADS Panel Definitions screen to define your Panel Header. NOMADS displays your selected Panel name (a locked field) and five folders (i.e. subpanels) where you can modify settings for Display, Font/Clr, Attributes, Logic and User Aids. In addition, buttons give you options to confirm that your changes are {Ok} or {Cancel} your changes and return to the NOMADS Panel Designer, set up Panel {Security} or display {Help}. A status line gives you information on the last Panel Header update (date, time, designer s name). If You re New to NOMADS: Start in Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23. Highlight or select a Panel and choose either Header from the Panel dropdown menu or use the {Head} button or icon. NOMADS displays the Panel Definitions screen. Defaults: Order of Precedence You can modify the Panel Definition to set defaults applicable to all Controls on your selected Panel. Your Font/Clr and User Aids settings here in the Panel Header will override most of your corresponding settings in Library Defaults (exception: Use 3D). (See Library > Library Defaults, p. 18 to set default Font/Clr and User Aids for all Panels in a selected Library.) The {Properties} button in Objects > Panel Designer, p. 23 lets you define settings for individual Controls. Individual {Properties} settings override corresponding Panel Header and Library Default settings. See also Drawing and Defining Controls, p Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 26

27 Panel {Security}, Ver You can use your System Classifications to restrict or allow user access to a Panel. A {Security} button gives you quick access to your selected Panel Header s Object Security Definition where you can assign one of two access levels (Full or None). NOTE: To add, modify or delete a Security Classification in your system, select Security from the NOMADS Main Menu and complete the Classifications and Users registrations. When Security is created initially, your Classification is ADMIN. Do not {Delete} that Classification. NOMADS uses it internally to control access to Security Classification and User maintenance. (That is, you need this Classification to gain Full Access for adding or editing User IDs and Classifications. NOMADS does not give the general USER permission to edit the Security maintenance utilities.) See Security, p To grant a class of users access to your selected Panel, highlight a System Classification and select Full access [/F]. This moves the class of users to the list of Existing Object Classifications with full permission to use the Panel. At RUN-time, NOMADS displays the Panel to this Classification, and then checks the Panel s individual Control objects for {Security} restrictions at the Control level. See (Properties}: Security, p. 38. By default, if a Panel has no Existing Object Classifications, there is no security. All users are granted full access. If you assign one or more Existing Object Classifications, then only those users who are registered in the Classification(s) on the Existing Object Classifications list will have access and NOMADS will not display the Control to users who are not registered in a Classification which has access. To remove permission from a specific class of users for your selected Panel, select or highlight the class on the Existing Object Classifications list and use Delete Access. Your changes are updated when you click on {Ok}. 27 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 27

28 Display Folder Panel Header Settings Title Default Program Tag Field Column, Line Precision Size Panel Title in one of 3 forms: Fixed text (string literal; default), Expression (evaluated when the Panel is created) or Message Library Reference (using an optional argument). Either a Fixed program name or a string Expression. NOMADS assumes that your default program contains all the statement labels and processing for use by the Logic folder of your selected object and/or Controls. With a Default Program named, all you need in the Logic fields is a semicolon (;) with a statement label. NOMADS executes your Pre-Display Logic just before the Panel and all the Controls are drawn. Example: If Default Program = PGM_01 And Pre-Display field in the Logic folder = Perform ";INIT_STUFF" NOMADS performs "PGM_01;INIT_STUFF" To override the default program name: If Pre-Display field in the Logic folder = Perform "PGM_123;INIT_STUFF" NOMADS performs "PGM_123;INIT_STUFF" Only used by NOMADS File Maintenance generator. Loaded with the Physical File name. Position of the top left corner of your Panel. Dropdown options: Absolute position of Panel in columns and lines Panel s column and line position Relative to the main window Panel Centered relative to the main screen Examples: If the main window s top-left corner on the screen is at Column=5, Line=5 and if the Position setting for your current panel is: Absolute Column 2, Line 2, then the Panel s top left corner is at column 2, line 2 of the screen Relative Column 2, Line 2, then the Panel s top left corner is at column 7, line 7 of the screen (Relative to the main window) Centered, then the Panel is centered relative to the screen. To override the default numeric precision. Range: 1 to 14 decimal places. NOMADS default: your current ProvideX PRECISION <Asis>. Panel Width (in columns) and Height (in lines). 28 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 28

29 Font/Clr Folder Panel Header Settings Font Specification Alignment Color Attributes Mnemonics and Other Select an existing Font by name and Size. Overrides the Library Defaults for your selected Panel. Alignment for Fonted Text on your selected Panel (Left Justify, Center, Right Justify, WordWrap). Overrides the Library Defaults. Foreground and Background colours for all text regions on your selected Panel. Overrides the Library Defaults. Font attributes for all text on the selected Panel in the current Library. Override these for individual Controls. You can toggle the following font attributes ON/OFF: Bold Italics Underscore all characters Underscore all & ed characters: When defining hot keys for Text Controls (e.g. &Customer results in Customer) when the text is displayed on a Panel. This attribute must be turned ON or the ampersand is displayed instead of the underscore. ANSI characters (Default. When you toggle this OFF, NOMADS lets you use other character sets, such as Wingdings.) Toggle the check boxes ON / OFF to set mnemonic defaults for Reverse Video ( BR ), Blink/Bold ( BB ) and setting the Background ( SB ). These mnemonics are only applied to non-fonted text and are sent prior to the display of the text. Other: To include valid graphical mnemonic strings. You can use this field for any ProvideX attribute string or valid mnemonic you want to send as output prior to the display of the text. Enclose mnemonics in single quotes and use the plus sign to concatenate items in a list, e.g., 'PEN'(3,1,2)+'LINE'(2,10,12,16). 29 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 29

30 Attributes Folder Note: Dialogue Child window Panel Header Settings Toggle the Attributes ON / OFF. ON: Panel is a free standing dialogue box, not constrained by the main window. All Controls (including menu bars) in all other windows on the screen are disabled. ON: Panel is a child of the main window and can t be moved outside of it. Suppress.VAL OFF: NOMADS automatically places the value of each of your Panel s Controls into a variable using your control_name with a.val$ extension. ON: NOMADS automatically places the value into a variable using your control_name$. This can be set in System Defaults at the NOMADS Main Menu level. Example: If a Panel has a list box defined as LBOX_1 then the value within this Control is in the variable LBOX_1.VAL$ (or LBOX_1$ if the.val$ is suppressed). Always on Top Status Bar Menu Bar Resizable ON: Panel will always be displayed on top of any other open windows. To activate the Message Bar and have a message displayed, you must toggle your Status Bar setting ON. ON: To display a previously defined Menu Bar at the top of the Panel. The Panel must be a Dialogue box. See also: Defining Menu Bars, p ON: To allow the user to resize the Panel by dragging by the edges. Resizable/Auto Scroll ON - Not only can users resize the Panel by dragging the edges, but if the Panel is reduced in size, NOMADS automatically supplies horizontal and/or vertical scrollbars. Then if a Control has the Enable Scrolling attribute set / ON, the result is scrolling movement. No Title Bar Minimize Box Maximize Box Close Box AutoClose Files Auto Refresh ON: Panel is drawn without a Title Bar. ON: To give users a WINDOWS Minimize icon {-}, top right corner of the Panel. ON: To give users a WINDOWS Maximize icon at top right corner of the Panel. ON: To give users a WINDOWS Close icon {X} at top right corner of the Panel. ON: All LOCAL files your application opened are closed automatically after the On Exit logic is executed when the Panel terminates (Ver. 4.03). Channel numbers from 1 to 63 (or in extended file mode) are commonly used for local files. GLOBAL files are not automatically closed. ON: NOMADS automatically resets REFRESH_FLG=1 for you. The screen display is refreshed automatically on returning from process Logic when any Control values are changed by your application (Ver. 4.03). 30 Sage Canada, ProvideX NOMADS Reference Guide (Ver. 4.20), 9/29/00 30