The best approach...

[Tony Carolla <carolla@xxxxxxxxx>]

I have a lookup inquiry module I am building, and I am not sure what
the best approach is.  I usually build this type of application with a
parameter format, which allows them to put in their search criteria,
then a sfl/sflctl format pair that shows them the results.  To choose
different parms, they simply press F12, and are taken back to the parm
format, yadda yadda yadda, until they press F3

But I would like this one to be different.  I want to have a top
section of the screen that allows them to enter search criteria, and a
bottom section of the screen  that allows selection of items in a
sub-file of the entries that are found.  Entry of either a character
on a subfile line takes them to a detail screen format, and entry of
new parameters in the top section rebuilds the subfile in the bottom
section.

I started thinking of using window-bordering, and making a top format
window for entry, a middle format window for the subfile control
record, a lower middle format window for the subfile, and a bottom
format window for F-key and instruction line.  But I am not sure, if I
use the selection parms and exfmt the subfile, and the user changes
the top format window selection parameters, will I receive these in
the DSPF field buffers?  Or will only the subfile records change?

Is there a better way to do this?  Can you have input fields in the
SFLCTL format?


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