INTOUCH® 4GL
A Guide to the INTOUCH Language
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BOLD, BLINK, UNDERLINE, REVERSE

The BOLD, BLINK, UNDERLINE and REVERSE options allow each input string to be displayed with its own attributes. If these format options are used together with the ATTRIBUTES option, the ATTRIBUTES option will be supressed. 


        10  INPUT SCREEN '<AT 5,10, BOLD,BLINK:@@@@@@>' + & 
                         '<AT 6,10, REVERSE:@@@@@@>': str1$, str2$ 
        20  END

5.16.3 The User's Response to the SCREEN Option

When a single INPUT SCREEN statement is used to create a fill-in screen, certain keys on the keyboard have special functions. The following keys can be used to complete the screen:

TAB

Jump to the next field in the input screen statement. Once you have finished filling in a field, you must press the [Tab] key to jump to the next field.

\

The \ (backslash) can be used to return to a previous field. When the \ key is pressed, you will jump back to the beginning of the previous field and can change the entry.

Return

The [Return] key is used to complete a data entry screen. If more than one format is included in a screen option, when you have finished filling in all the fields, the [Return] key must be pressed to complete data entry. You must be at the last field when the [Return] key is pressed. Until the [Return] key is pressed, you are free to change your response to any field. 


        10  a$ = '<AT 6, 10: Full name @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>' + & 
                 '<AT 8, 10: Address @@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@@>' + & 
                 '<AT 10, 10: City @@@@@@@@@@@@>' + & 
                 '<AT 10, 38, AJ, REQ, LETTERS: State ^^>' + & 
                 '<AT 10, 50, REQ, DIGITS: Zip #####>' 
        20  CLEAR 
            INPUT SCREEN a$: name$, addr1$, city$, state$, zip$ 
            DELAY 
        30  CLEAR 
            PRINT AT 6, 10: name$ 
            PRINT AT 8, 10: addr1$ 
            PRINT AT 10, 10: city$; ', '; state$; '   '; zip$ 
        40  END 
 
        RNH 
 
             Full name Sunny Day_______________ 
 
             Address 2356 Main St._____________ 
 
             City San Diego___           State CA    Zip 92131 
 
 
                           Press the RETURN key to continue 
 
            Sunny Day 
 
            2356 Main St. 
 
            San Diego, CA   92131

5.17 MENU Option

Use the MENU option to create pop-up menus.

FORMAT:


        [LINE] INPUT MENU str_expr: str_var

str_expr is a string expression that describes the menu. It consists of multiple, comma-separated elements. The elements can be either items or directives.

EXAMPLE:


        10  title$ = '%TITLE "structure",%MULTI,' 
            box_loc$ = '%AT 10,15,' 
            client$ = '"TTI_Client"={id,name={Cass,Brock,Errant},phone},' 
            address$ = 'address={%BAR,street,city,state,country},' 
            misc$ = 'misc={%REPLACE,mail,record}'   
            menu$ = title$ & box_loc$ & client$ & address$ & misc$ 
        20  LINE INPUT MENU menu$: ans$ 
        30  END 
 
        RNH 
               +---STRUCTURE---+ 
               |  TTI_CLIENT  +---ADDRESS--+ 
               |  ADDRESS     |------------| 
               |  MISC...     |  STREET    | 
               +--------------|  CITY      | 
                              |  STATE     | 
                              |  COUNTRY   | 
                              +------------+

Using a MOUSE
INTOUCH supports the use of a MOUSE to select and execute menu items when on a DECterm (X-term or workstation). A single mouse click selects and executes the menu item.

5.17.1 Items

Menu items consist of either a description or a description and = sign followed by either a data value or a submenu indicator. If no = sign is given, the data value is the same as the description. If the description contains spaces or special characters, it must be enclosed within quotes. Up to 5000 menu items can be handled.

5.17.1.1 Descriptions

Menu descriptions are displayed on the menu for the user to choose.

5.17.1.2 Data Value

The data value is the value returned to the application when the menu item is chosen.

5.17.2 Submenu Indicator

A submenu indicator consists of a "{" followed by menu elements followed by "}".

5.17.3 Menu DIRECTIVES:

The following directives can be used with the [LINE] INPUT MENU statement:

%AT row, column

The menu or submenu box can be placed at a given row and column. CENTER can be used in place of row and/or column to center a menu or submenu. 


        %AT row, CENTER 
        %AT CENTER, column 
        %AT CENTER, CENTER

%AUTODISPLAY

The %AUTODISPLAY directive controls display of submenus. Unless specifically turned OFF, INTOUCH automatically displays submenus.

FORMAT: 


        %AUTODISPLAY [ON|OFF]

%AUTOVBAR

The %AUTOVBAR directive is used to turn vertical bars ON and OFF in menus. By default, menubars do not have vertical bars separating the items. The %AUTOVBAR directive can be used to enable this feature, but it must be placed after the %MENUBAR directive.

FORMAT: 


        %AUTOVBAR [ON|OFF]

EXAMPLE: 


        10 item1$='%MENUBAR,%AUTOVBAR on,OPEN,SELECT={INCLUDE,EXCLUDE},SORT,PRINT' 
           LINE INPUT MENU item1$ : ans$ 
           END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
        |  OPEN   |   SELECT   |   SORT   |   PRINT                                 | 
        +-----------+---SELECT---+--------------------------------------------------+ 
                    |  INCLUDE   | 
                    |  EXCLUDE   | 
                    +------------+

%BAR

Separates DESCRIPTIVE-items with "----". The separated line consists of the characters specified in a "text_str". If no text is given, the separated line defaults to a dashed line.

FORMAT: 


        %BAR ['text_str']

EXAMPLE: 


        10 menu$ = '"DATA ENTRY","REPORTS",%BAR"*",MAIL,EXIT' 
           LINE INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
        20 END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +---------------+ 
        |  DATA ENTRY   | 
        |  REPORTS      | 
        |  **********   | 
        |  MAIL         | 
        |  EXIT         | 
        +---------------+

%COLUMNS

The %COLUMNS directive sets the number of columns for the menu.

FORMAT: 


        %COLUMNS number

EXAMPLE: 


        10 menu$ = '%COLUMNS 3,"DATA ENTRY","REPORTS",MAIL,HELP,EXIT' 
           LINE INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
        20 END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +-------------------------------------+ 
        |  DATA ENTRY   |   HELP   |   EXIT   | 
        |  REPORTS      |   MAIL   |          | 
        +-------------------------------------+

%HEADING

The %HEADING directive displays a blank line and a "text_str" between menu items. If no "text_str" is given, the line defaults to a dashed line.

FORMAT: 


        %HEADING ['text_str']

EXAMPLE: 


        10 menu$ ='OPEN,SHOW,PRINT,%HEADING"GUIDE_OPTIONS",NOSYSTEM,"MENU ON|OFF"' 
           LINE INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
        20 END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +------------------+ 
        |  OPEN            | 
        |  SHOW            | 
        |  PRINT           | 
        |                  | 
        |  GUIDE_OPTIONS   | 
        |  NOSYSTEM        | 
        |  MENU ON|OFF     | 
        +------------------+

%ITEMS

The %ITEMS directive creates a multi-column menu. "number" represents the number of items per column. %ITEMS creates as many columns as is necessary. Horizontal scroll the columns as needed.

FORMAT: 


        %ITEMS number

EXAMPLE: 


        10  menu$='ENGINES={%ITEMS 3, DBMS, RMS, ADABASE, RDB, DBASE}' 
            INPUT MENU menu$: ans$ 
        20  END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +----------+------------------------+ 
        |  ENGINES |  DBMS      |   RDB     | 
        +----------|  RMS       |   DBASE   | 
                   |  ADABASE   |           | 
                   +------------------------+

%LOCKSTEP

The %LOCKSTEP directive controls column scrolling when there are multiple columns in one menu. If it is turned OFF, the columns scroll independently. Otherwise, the columns scroll together.

FORMAT: 


        %LOCKSTEP [ON|OFF]

EXAMPLE: 


        10 menu$ = '%LOCKSTEP off, %SIZE 4, 1,2,3,4,5,6,%SPLIT,7,8,9,10,11,12' 
           LINE INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
           PRINT 'Please, PRESS the "NEXT" key' 
        20 END 
 
        RNH 
 
        Please, PRESS the 'NEXT' key
 
        +---------------+ 
        |  ... |   7    | 
        |  4   |   8    | 
        |  5   |   9    | 
        |  6   |   ...  | 
        +---------------+

%MAXWIDTH

The %MAXWIDTH directive controls the maximum width of the entire menu.

FORMAT: 


        %MAXWIDTH number

EXAMPLE: 


        10  menu$ = '%MAXWIDTH 20,%ITEMS 2,a,b,c,d,f,g,h,i,j' 
            INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
        20  END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +--------------------+ 
        |<<  F   |   H     >>| 
        |    G   |   I       | 
        +--------------------+

%MENUBAR

The %MENUBAR directive creates menu bars (menus with choices listed horizontally) with pull-down submenus.

FORMAT: 


        %MENUBAR

EXAMPLE: 


        10 item1$='%MENUBAR,OPEN,SELECT={INCLUDE,EXCLUDE},SORT,PRINT' 
           LINE INPUT MENU item1$ : ans$ 
        20 END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
        |  OPEN      SELECT      SORT      PRINT                                    | 
        +----------+---SELECT---+---------------------------------------------------+ 
                   |  INCLUDE   | 
                   |  EXCLUDE   | 
                   +------------+

%MESSAGE

The %MESSAGE directive displays a message when the menu or submenu is displayed.

FORMAT: 


        %MESSAGE 'message'

EXAMPLE: 


        10  CLEAR 
        20  menu$ = 'open,show,print, %MESSAGE "Select a menu option"' 
            LINE INPUT MENU menu$: ans$ 
        30  END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +----------+ 
        |  OPEN    | 
        |  SHOW    | 
        |  PRINT   | 
        +----------+ 
 
 
 
 
                              Select a menu option

%MULTI

The %MULTI directive allows multiple items to be selected from a menu or submenu.

%REPLACE

The %REPLACE directive can be located in any submenu. The calling menu is not kept on the screen. Pressing '\' will return to the calling menu.

%SIZE number

Determines the number of DESCRIPTIVE-items that are located in the menu_box.

There is no limit to the number of the items that can be used. If all of the items do not fit within the menu box, the items are vertically scrolled using the UP, DOWN, NEXT and PREV keys. "Str_var" contains the name of the selected item. If the %MULTI directive is used and the [Select] key is pressed, "Str_var" contains the names of the items. Each item is separated by a linefeed character.

%SPLIT

The %SPLIT directive instructs INTOUCH to start a new column at that specified point in the menu.

FORMAT: 


        %SPLIT

EXAMPLE: 


        10  item1$='title,chapter,page={1201,1202,1203,1204,%SPLIT,1305,1306,1307}' 
            LINE INPUT MENU item1$ : ans$ 
        20  END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +------------+ 
        |  TITLE     | 
        |  CHAPTER +-------PAGE---------+ 
        |  PAGE    |  1201   |   1305   | 
        +----------|  1202   |   1306   | 
                   |  1203   |   1307   | 
                   |  1204   |          | 
                   +--------------------+

%TITLE ".........."

Assign a title to a menu or submenu.

%VBAR

The %VBAR directive is used to explicitly insert a vertical bar.

FORMAT: 


        %VBAR

EXAMPLE: 


        10 item1$='%MENUBAR,OPEN,%VBAR,SELECT={INCLUDE,EXCLUDE},SORT,PRINT' 
           LINE INPUT MENU item1$ : ans$ 
           END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +---------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
        |  OPEN   |   SELECT      SORT      PRINT                                   | 
        +-----------+---SELECT---+--------------------------------------------------+ 
                    |  INCLUDE   | 
                    |  EXCLUDE   | 
                    +------------+

%WIDTH

The %WIDTH directive controls the minimum width of the current column.

FORMAT: 


        %WIDTH number

EXAMPLE: 


        10  menu$ = '%WIDTH 20,%ITEMS 2,a,b,c,d,f,g,h,i,j' 
            INPUT MENU menu$ : ans$ 
        20  END 
 
        RNH 
 
        +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+ 
        |<<  C                 |   F                 |   H                           >>| 
        |    D                 |   G                 |   I                             | 
        +------------------------------------------------------------------------------+

5.17.4 User Interface

The following is the user interface in a [LINE] INPUT MENU:

5.18 KEY INPUT

FORMAT:


        KEY INPUT [[#channel] [, PROMPT str_expr] 
             [, TIMEOUT time_limit] 
             [, ELAPSED num_var] 
             :] var, [var,...]

EXAMPLE:


        10  PRINT 'See how quick you are.' 
        20  KEY INPUT PROMPT 'Press a key, quick!', & 
                  ELAPSED x: press$ 
        30  PRINT 
            PRINT 'You took'; x; 'seconds to Press '; press$; '.' 
        40  END 
 
        RNH 
        See how quick you are. 
        Press a key, quick! 
        You took 1.99 seconds to Press h.

PURPOSE:

KEY INPUT inputs a keystroke from the user and stores the value of the key in the string variable specified.

DESCRIPTION:

Some applications require the use of special keys on the terminal or keystroke level validation. The KEY INPUT statement is used for these applications.

KEY INPUT does not echo the key pressed, nor does it generate a line feed.

All the options available with the preceding "INPUT" statement are also available with KEY INPUT. KEY INPUT returns the following:

_TERMINATOR returns control (Ctrl) characters in the format "CTRL/X". For example, if the user presses [Ctrl/G], _TERMINATOR returns "CTRL/G". 


        10  KEY INPUT 'Press a terminator' : z$ 
            PRINT 
            PRINT 'You pressed '; _TERMINATOR 
        20  END 
 
        RNH 
        Press a terminator?            (User presses [CTRL/G]) 
        You pressed CTRL/G

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