+1 on UIM!
As for a UDA tool - I have thought of it more in terms of the replacement for DSPFs. A previewer would be nice, too - one of the things about UIM is, it can adjust its for things like screen size, IIRC - so a UDA might be a bit much.
Also IIRC, both HTML and UIM are extended from SGML.
UIM is also nice for command help = and the GENCMDDOC command is pretty cool, especially if you put the output in the IFS, again, IIRC.
Cheers
Vern
On Wed, 25 Sep, 2024 at 1:55 PM, Patrik Schindler <poc@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:
To: midrange systems technical discussion
Hello Vern,
Am 25.09.2024 um 18:39 schrieb VERNON HAMBERG Owner via MIDRANGE-L <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx<mailto:midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>>:
Then that document also describes creating UIM menus - and that's what IBM do to make all theirs.
I second this thought!
When I began with OS/400, DDS menus seemed easier to me, but they have some drawbacks I don't like:
- One menu is eventually comprised of three objects
- Menus are one-page only
- Looks more IBMish
- Adding nicely formatted help text is PITA
All of these are nullified with UIM. While I perceive the usage of UIM for actual display files cumbersome to program — compared to DDS —, UIM really shines with menus. No messing with layout and long lines and whatnot. Define what you want to show, crtmenu, done.
With includes (.IM tag, another name for something akin to RPG /COPY members) static texts can be tucked away somewhere else.
See
https://github.com/PoC-dev/as400-sfltemplates/blob/main/menu.pnlgrp for an example.
Now if only to get a UDA to help us out!
Given the fact that you define content and not a layout in UIM tag language, I hardly see a compelling reason to have "UDA". Just make yourself aware about how similar the basic ideas of UIM and HTML "languages" are.
What indeed would be nice to have is a previewer: How the result actually looks like.
:wq! PoC
midrange.com
