VT screens 

Introduction

The X3 tool makes it possible to develop a VT application. This document lists the development rules relating to this type of application.

The development of the application and the first tests are to be carried out in the Client/Server environment.
The next tests can then be carried out upon VT emulation and then upon mobile drive emulation.

Development for VT mode

The VT screens are o be defined in the X3 dictionary. Since the mobile drive has a limited display capacity, following rules apply and should be obeyed.

The screen:

  • 8 lines at a maximum (7 data lines + 1 button line )
  • 20 columns at a maximum
  • List and Grid section authorized

The sections:

  • section without title to avoid unnecessary translations.
  • the background text is planned on 20 characters (by rule)

The fields:

  • The field and its title are recorded on 2 distinct fields in order to position the one under the other.
  • The title is a field in option W. It description is recorded in "Default value".
    The untitled fields are named TEXTE0 to TEXTEn and defined for a length of 20 char. (by rule)
  • The 1st field of the 1st screen (TEXTE0) loads the title of the function. Style VTTIT (reverse video+underlined by rule)
  • The other titles TEXTE1 to TEXTEn have the style VTTEX (brightened by rule)
  • The entry field are never set up as mandatory in order to avoid the message Supervisor too long. It is thus necessary to schedule the control in the field action.
  • The numeric entry field are defined with option "z" in order to prevent the display of value 0 by default.
  • Tunnel deactivated in VT mode, no graphic field, no help.

The Windows:

  • The window must be of VT type
  • Display type: full screen
  • Header mandatory even for a single screen in the window.
    Must be named AVTENT (made mandatory by Supervisor). No field must be declared

Authorized Supervisor templates:

  • Window entry
  • Standard processing
  • Table selection

The menus:

  • Working like in C/S mode with a menu profile associated with a user
  • The titles of the menus must be short (20 char. at a maximum)
  • Several menu levels are possible

Programming:

  • Global variable GVTMOD = 1 for VT mode. 
  • The LECFIC ‘Log reading’ processing was adjusted to VT screens in order to display only the log file name in a dialog box along with: The number of errors and the first error if needed.

Ergonomics of the VT screens

The ergonomics are specific for a VT application. The list below defines the characteristics:

  • The field being entered is in reverse video and in bold.
  • The field length is illustrated by dots.
  • The hourglass is illustrated by a * in the upper left.
  • The sections are not illustrated and their title is not displayed.
  • The tabs are displayed one by one.

The buttons:

  • 4 buttons at a maximum.
  • OK and END are still here without having to define them.( 1st and 4th button)
  • SEL for fields having a "selection" button. (3rd button)
  • The additional buttons may not depend on the current screen. A button defined in the window is present on all the screens, even though they cannot be displayed at the same time.
  • 1st button activated by F1, 2nd by F2, 3rd by F3, 4th by F4 key

The keys:

GESAMK_VT_001.gif        : Scrolling in a field (e.g. for a long title)
Tab          : next field. In the last field, going to the next screen
Shift+Tab: previous field. In the first field, going to the previous screen

The keys in selection window: ­ 

GESAMK_VT_002.gif    Previous line 
GESAMK_VT_003.gif    Next line
GESAMK_VT_005.gif    Previous page
GESAMK_VT_004.gif    Next page

The menus:

  • displaying 4 menu lines at the same time.