Re: Using a Message Subfile with no SFLINZ

[Joe Pluta <joepluta@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I've never tried a message subfile this way, Javier, but it sounds a 
little like the old problem of a subfile not getting cleared from the 
screen when you don't write to it.  An example is when you have a 
subfile with a filter on the screen.  You first show a bunch of records, 
then the user enters a filter that selects no records.  You don't want 
to display the subfile because there are no records and you get an 
error, but the last subfile is left on the screen.   (Remember, I'm 
shooting from memory here.)  I use the ERASE keyword to clear that subfile.

Maybe you can use the ERASE keyword?

N91 ERASE(MSGSFL)



On 2/12/2020 8:07 PM, Javier Sánchez wrote:
> Good day,
>
> According to the documentation in the IBM's DDS for Display Files, there
> are two ways of using a message subfile for sending messages to the screen,
> typically on the bottom line.
>
> I have used it with the SFLINZ keyword in the control subfile record, and
> that has worked fine.  But in order to get rid of the message text, you
> have to remove the corresponding messages that have been sent to the
> program's message queue.
>
> Trying to use the message subfile with no SFLINZ, requires you to use a
> variable for the RRN, needed to write to the subfile record format.  I am
> using such option this way: I start with a list, displaying a regular
> subfile with some records on the screen.  Then with F6=Add Record I EXFMT
> another screen for entering some data, and with F1 have a new record added
> to my database file.  If I detect that an error, I send the error message
> to the message subfile, which is displayed as I want.  When I correct all
> the errors, I clear the message subfile and if everything is correct, the
> message subfile doesn't show again, which is what I want.  Hitting F1, I
> write a new record in my database file, and then I send an *INFO message
> type to the message subfile telling the user that one additional record has
> been succesfully inserted.  With F12 I get back to the original subfile.
> But the message subfile keeps being displayed, even though I control it
> with the OVERLAY keyword conditioned by an indicator and also I clear the
> message subfile.
>
> The only reason for wanting to use this way the message subfile, is
> beacause I don't want to remove the messages in the program's message queue.
>
> I only use SFLDSP, SFLDSPCTL, OVERLAY in the control record, and only use
> the message key, and program queue keywords in the subfile records.  All
> three keywords in the control record are conditioned by indicator 91 which
> I turn on when displaying the record and then turn off when clearing the
> message subfile.  The SFLCLR keyword is conditioned by indicator 92 which
> of course I turn on when writing to the control record and then turn off
> after the write operation.
>
> Message subfile:
> MSGSFL SFL SFLMSGRCD(24)
> MSGKEY SFLMSGKEY
> MSGQUE SFLPGMQ
>
> Message subfile Control record:
> MSGCTL SFLCTL(MSGSFL)
> 91 OVERLAY
> 91 SFLDSP
> 91 SLFCTLDSP
> 92 SFLCLR
> 91 SFLEND
>
> The message subfile keeps showing the last text message sent to the Add
> Record screen, and I supposedly CLEARED it when displaying the other
> regular subfile.
>
> What am I doing wrong?
>
> Thanks.