Overlays Not Showing

[DaveLClarkI]

I have a tab panel in its own display file with 8 tabs and each tab executes a different RPG program. The tab panel, itself, is managed by a service program which the other 8 RPG programs call in order to place the tab panel on the screen first and then leave that display file open. I've run this all through debug and this much seems to be working just fine.

Then, the plan is that each of the 8 RPG programs will have their own, separate display files and will overlay the tab panel with their own panel content. Here is where things are breaking down. The 8 RPG programs are writing the record format for their overlay content; but, I don't see anything appearing in the browser -- except just the tab panel (and the active tab does change appropriately).

I have "overlay" specified for these 8 display files. What am I missing? See attachments.

[Scott Klement]

Make sure you've turned on the 'assume' option. Otherwise, when you open a separate display file, it will clear the screen (just as green-screen does). This is a screen-level property.

[DaveLClarkI]

Thanks, getting slightly different behavior now; but, still the same issue -- I can't see any of the 8 overlay panels. What changed is that previously the page would clear if I then pressed ENTER and then I would see the [X] image in the top right portion of where the overlay panel would (should) be displayed. Now, the page does not clear after I press ENTER. I still don't see the overlay panel but I do see the [X] image and the tab panel at the same time.

So, there are really two issues -- (1) the overlay panels don't show and (2) I have to press ENTER to see any of the content from the 8 separate display files which are supposed to display over the tab panel display file.

[DaveLClarkI]

If it helps any, this is the order of program and user events:

• start program1
• open displayf1
• callp tabwrite in service program
• open tabmenu
• write tabmenu
• return
• write overlay1
• callp tabread in service program
• read tabmenu
• press ENTER
• return
• read overlay1
• click [X]
• close displayf1
• callp tabclose in service program
• close tabmenu
• return
• *inlr = 1
• return
• end program1

[Scott Klement]

Hmmmm... I'm not sure that this will work.

I think you can write a background format (tab panels) and then overlay it with a screen from another display file. But, I don't think you can subsequently go back and try to read them both, unless you put them in the same display file. And, even then, I think you'll probably have to first read the overlay format before reading the background format.

I could be wrong, I've never done this.

[DaveLClarkI]

David Russo said the above could be done. He even provided sample code doing much the same thing I did, above. However, I'm willing to tackle just one thing at a time until he gets back. I'd be satisfied (for now) if I could just get the overlay panels to display properly. Ideas on that? I've attached a Ctrl-F9 dump of what the screen looks like after I press the ENTER key -- where the overlay panel content can be seen but not the overlay panel, itself.

[DaveLClarkI]

I've reexamined Mr. Russo's example code and he does have his program events in a slightly different order. I also realized I didn't post the actual order I was using. Here is the corrected order:

• start program1
• callp tabwrite in service program
• open tabmenu
• write tabmenu
• return
• open displayf1
• write overlay1
• callp tabread in service program
• read tabmenu
• press ENTER
• return
• read overlay1
• click [X]
• ...etc...

If I were to use Mr. Russo's order, it would be more like the following -- and I'm sure this would solve the problem of having to press ENTER before the overlay content appears.

• start program1
• callp tabwrite in service program
• open tabmenu
• write tabmenu
• return
• open displayf1
• write overlay1
• read overlay1
• click a different tab
• callp tabread in service program
• read tabmenu
• return
• ...etc...

So, I'm starting on program changes to use the same order of events as the example; but, though I could be wrong, I don't expect that to also solve the issue of the overlay panels not showing up when their content does. Ideas on that?

[Rob]

I'll create a test program to see if I can reproduce the problem.

[DaveLClarkI]

Thanks. I've finished reordering my code and everything is running smoothly, now, in navigation terms. As before, though, the overlay content is there but the overlay panels are still missing.

[DaveLClarkI]

I'll create a test program to see if I can reproduce the problem.

If you like, I can dump all my objects and source into a save file and send it to you.