Multiple record formats display on one screen

[winnerwes]

Is there a way to display multiple file formats? We have an action panel which is common to multiple screens and then a main area. It would be nice if the action panel could reside in a single record format and then bound to the main screen record format. At this point it doesn't seem possible, is it?

[Brian]

Of course it is possible. Profound UI record formats support the overlay keyword just like green screen records. Just write out your action panel then exfmt your main panel. Make sure the overlay property is set appropriately. Check your properties for the record format level by clicking away from any widgets and then looking in the properties panel.

[winnerwes]

That doesn't work, I am using the overlay keyword and write the action panel followed by the exfmt of the main screen. Only the main screen displays. The overlay only works on screens that were previously displayed and it keeps them in place when the next screen/window appears. Even if it did work, none of the buttons or links on the action panel would be functional, but I could be doing something wrong.

[msuhr]

Did this issue ever get resolved as I am trying the same thing, with limited success? We want a common 'header' to be used in all programs. I can get the initial display to work correctly and any function keys or the exit button will work by adding a read after the exfmt, but, leaving the first screen and then returning does not work as it leaves the second screen on the display, even with clear line set to true in the header.

[Scott Klement]

Displaying a screen, and then overlaying part of it with another screen does work -- we have many, many customers doing this. I wasn't involved in the original discussion -- I hope that winnerwes got his problem resolved?

msuhr, I don't understand what you mean. You seem to be saying that part of one of the screens remains on the display, right? It's normal for a screen to stay on the display until the next screen is displayed -- the next screen simply replaces the previous one. (Unless an overlay or similar is specified.)

Can you tell me (or show me) how to reproduce the problem you're having?

[msuhr]

Hi Scott, Mark here. I am attempting to have a common header display file that will be displayed for all screens/all programs. To that end I have created a display file that only has this header format. My file maintenance program shows a subfile and from there the user can add records, change records etc. Now to get the initial screen to display, I do 2 writes, one for the header format and 1 for the subfile control record and then 2 reads for both, like so:

write header;
write ctl01;
read ctl01;
read header;

Header format and sfl both display correctly and all functions work correctly. Now the user wishes to add a new record, clicks on the add button, the new record format does not clear the existing screen/sfl but just overlays it which is a mess. I do a write header, then a write to ctl02, then 2 reads for both like so:

write header;
write ctl02;
read ctl02;
read header;

The header format has the clear line attribute set to *all and the starting line set to 1, so I would expect the entire screen to be cleared before header is written to the screen, but it is not happening. Does this make sense?

[msuhr]

Scott, thanks for your help. I have resolved the issue as I can use the clear format attribute within the maintenace program and it works great.

[Scott Klement]

I would say, in this case, that the 'header' record format should not be a window, and should not have overlay specified. Therefore, when you display 'header' it will erase the display. When you display the ctl01, it should have overlay so the header remains.

Does that make sense?

[msuhr]

yes sir, that is correct. Header is not a window, does not have overlay specified, and does have the clear line attribute set to *all and the clear line starting a 1. Now just in case I have not made this clear is header is a record format of a different display file, that way if we want to change the header, we just change it in one file and then all we need to do is recompile the programs, rather than include it in every single screen file. I was expecting that every single time I used the write op-code, then the screen would be cleared first and then header displayed and that was not happening. I changed my 2nd display file, the one that has the subfile and the maint screen, so that when displaying either one, it would clear the other one first, which is working but seems a bit ***. I would think that writing header to the screen would clear it out.