Re[2]: "extract" command enhancement (subfiles and BIFs)

Paul,

>   My own personal problem with subfiles is how difficult it is to code
>   one that encapsulates all the nice list functionality.  For example,
>   if you want "Position to:" functionality, you need SFLPAG=SFLSIZ.  If
>   you want to be able to select multiple records on different pages, and
>   page back and forth at will without losing these selections, you
>   either code SFLSIZ>SFLPAG, or handle it manually.  And don't get me
>   started on reliably positioning the list, and positioning the cursor
>   in the list.

As far as being "able to select multiple records on different pages, and page
back and forth at will without losing these selections", you may be interested
in an article in the September 1999 issue of News400, "The Power of User
Indexes" which is, I believe, the answer to the problem you describe.  In fact,
author Gary Guthrie describes his first experience with U.I. was for this very
reason.  I plan on checking this out soon.

>   I've said it before - if UIM were easier to code, it would have
>   answered a lot of my prayers.  It handles all the boring stuff like
>   actually displaying the data and managing user input, leaving the
>   business logic to the programmer.

I dunno, Paul.  I've done UIM before... I think it's even more mystical than all
the subfile incantations.  Won't touch it again.

- Dan Bale





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