CONTENTS

  Title Page

  Copyright Page

  Preface

  1      Introduction to Run-Time Processing
    1.1 Overview of DECforms Device Support
      1.1.1      Support for Character-Cell Terminals
      1.1.2      Support for OpenVMS DECWindows (Motif) Workstations
      1.1.3      Support for Personal Computers Running Microsoft Windows
      1.1.4      Support for PRINTER Devices
      1.1.5      Adding Motif Support To Character-Cell Applications
      1.1.6      Adding PRINTER Layouts Support To Character-Cell Applications
      1.1.7      Adding Windows Support To Character-Cell Applications
    1.2 Initiating and Controlling Run-Time Communication
    1.3 Transferring Data Between the Application and the Form
    1.4 Using Responses to Control Run-Time Processing
    1.5 Using the Activation List
    1.6 Using Framed Layouts in Microsoft Windows
    1.7 Setting Run-time Parameters on Microsoft Windows Using the decforms.ini File

  2      Developing the Application Program
    2.1 Using DECforms Requests
      2.1.1      Enabling Requests
      2.1.2      Moving Data from a Form to a Program
      2.1.3      Sending Data from a Program to a Form
      2.1.4      Asynchronous SEND Requests on OpenVMS Systems
      2.1.5      Transceiving Data
      2.1.6      Disabling Requests
      2.1.7      Canceling Requests
    2.2 Compiling, Linking, and Running the Application on OpenVMS Systems
      2.2.1      Compiling an Application on OpenVMS
      2.2.2      Linking an Application on OpenVMS
      2.2.3      Running an Application on OpenVMS
    2.3 Writing, Compiling, Linking, and Running an Application on Microsoft Windows
      2.3.1      Writing the Windows Application
      2.3.2      Compiling the Windows Application
      2.3.3      Getting the Binary Form File
      2.3.4      Linking the Windows Application
      2.3.5      Running the Windows Application
    2.4 Writing and Calling Escape Routines on OpenVMS
      2.4.1      Creating a Form Object on OpenVMS
      2.4.2      Linking Escape Routines Directly with a VMS API Program
      2.4.3      Linking Escape Routines Directly with a Portable API Program
      2.4.4      Linking Escape Routines in a Shareable Image
      2.4.5      Combining the Direct Link and Shareable Image Methods
      2.4.6      Enhancements to Escape Routine Debugging on OpenVMS Systems
    2.5 Writing and Calling Escape Routines on Microsoft Windows
      2.5.1      Creating a Form Object on Microsoft Windows
      2.5.2      Linking Escape Routines in a Dynamic Link Library
      2.5.3      Enhancements to Escape Routine Debugging on Microsoft Windows
    2.6 Using the Trace Facility
      2.6.1      Controlling Tracing
      2.6.2      Enabling and Disabling Tracing
      2.6.3      Exception Conditions During Tracing
      2.6.4      Tracing Command Procedure
      2.6.5      Capturing Additional Tracing Information
    2.7 Using the Event Log

  3      Using DECtrace ~ Software with DECforms Applications
    3.1 How to Collect Event Data
      3.1.1      Creating a Selection
      3.1.2      Describing Events and Items
      3.1.3      Scheduling Data Collection
    3.2 How to Create a Report Based on Collected Data
      3.2.1      Formatting and Merging Data Files
      3.2.2      Generating a Report
    3.3 Sample DECtrace Report for DECforms Software

  4      How the Form Manager Processes Requests
    4.1 Initialize Request Phase
      4.1.1      Initializing Requests (Except ENABLE)
      4.1.2      Initializing the ENABLE Request
    4.2 Data Distribution Phase
      4.2.1      Determining Where Values Are Stored
      4.2.2      How the Data is Distributed
      4.2.3      Using the DATA TRANSFER Clause
      4.2.4      Shadow Records
      4.2.5      Data Conversion
    4.3 External Response Processing Phase
      4.3.1      Performing Control Text Responses
      4.3.2      Performing Responses to Requests
      4.3.3      Response Steps
    4.4 Accept Phase
      4.4.1      Form Data Assignment Stage
      4.4.2      Panel Entry Response Stage
      4.4.3      Group Entry Response Stage
      4.4.4      Field Entry Response Stage
      4.4.5      Operator Input Stage
      4.4.6      Data Conversion Stage
      4.4.7      Function Response Stage
      4.4.8      Field Validation Stage
      4.4.9      Field Validation Response Stage
      4.4.10     Field Exit Response Stage
      4.4.11     Group Validation Response Stage
      4.4.12     Group Exit Response Stage
      4.4.13     Panel Validation Response Stage
      4.4.14     Panel Exit Response Stage
      4.4.15     Termination Check Stage
      4.4.16     Altering the Order of Activation Item Processing
      4.4.17     Help Processing
        4.4.17.1     Starting Help Processing
        4.4.17.2     How the Help Activation List Works
        4.4.17.3     Using DECforms Defaults
        4.4.17.4     Customized Help
    4.5 Request Exit Response Phase
    4.6 Form Data Collection Phase
      4.6.1      How Form Data is Collected
      4.6.2      Data Conversion
      4.6.3      Using the TRANSFER Clause
      4.6.4      Shadow Records
      4.6.5      Receive Shadow Records
      4.6.6      Data Transfer of Arrays
    4.7 Request Termination Phase

  5      Using the VMS API

  ENABLE

  DISABLE

  SEND

  RECEIVE

  TRANSCEIVE

  CANCEL

  6      Using the Portable API
    6.1 Using the Forms_Record_Data Structure
    6.2 Using the Forms_Request_Options Structure
    6.3 Using Disk-Based Forms or Linked Forms
    6.4 Using Escape Routines
    6.5 Using Error Message Routines
    6.6 Referencing Error Numbers
    6.7 C and FORTRAN Request Calling Description

  ENABLE

  DISABLE

  SEND

  RECEIVE

  TRANSCEIVE

  CANCEL
    6.8 Structure Definitions for the C Interface
    6.9 Structure Definitions for the Portable API FORTRAN Interface
    6.10 Additional Include File for the Microsoft Windows FORTRAN Interface
    6.11 Additional Header Files for the Microsoft Windows COBOL and Visual BASIC Interfaces

  A Elementary Conditions

  B Receive Control Text Items