Re: Display file attributes

Tim

Also, is it defined in the same format where it is used?

Vern

Following suggestions made by list members to a previously asked question, I
have converted a display file from using an indicator driven/hard-coded
attribute to using a program generated attribute field. I have encountered a
discrepancy I did not expect. This being my first attempt at using these 'P'
fields, I don't know if my expectations were wrong or my implementation was
incorrect.

Initially, the DDS for the field had:
A            MESG78        78   O 22  2
A  99                                             DSPATR(RI)
A  99                                             DSPATR(BL)
A                                           24  3'F12>'
I changed this to:
A            MESG78        78   O 22  2
A                                      DSPATR(&MESG78_A)
A                                           24  3'F12>'

Note that the only change is in the 'DSPATR' lines.

Initially, when there was an error (*In99 - *On) the field Mesg78 would show
correctly, reverse imaged and blinking. The 'non-field' part of the display
(line22pos80, line23, and line24pos1) immediately following the MESG78 field
would show as normal.

After I changed to using the attribute field 'Mesg78_A', the Mesg78 field
was reverse imaged and blinking, but the attributes did not stop at the end
of the intended field. Instead, they continued until line 24, position 1.
This is the position immediately before the space where the attributes for
next declared field would be. In neither case does the constant 'F12>' have
any explicitly declared attributes, either hard-coded or P-Fields.

I did not see anything concerning differences between 'hard-code' DSPATRs
and P-field DSPATRs in the 'DDS Reference: Display Files' manual.

I have not done enough testing to verify my conclusion, but it appears that
a P-Field attribute is in effect until the next declared screen field is
reached, and that a hardcode attribute applies only to the intended field.

Is this difference intentional?
Do I have something incorrect in my code?
What is the best method of having the P-field attribute end where intended?
If this is an 'undocumented feature', are there any others that I should be
aware of before (if) I adopt 'P-fields' as my standard method of applying
attributes?

Thanks in advance for any help.

Tim Kredlo
Exterior Wood, Inc

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