Message text

A message text must be written for each defined message code. Up to 30 inserts (see below) can be entered in the message text.
The message text is stored in the message file together with the message code and language identifier (see figure 24 in section "Structure of a message unit").
The following special rules must be observed when creating a message text:

• Separator “^”

  The message text is entered as a continuous line of text. To obtain a structured output, the user can insert the separator “^” at any position in the message text. Text that follows this separator is output on the next line. The SHOW function can be used to check how the message text will look.

• Character set restriction

  Messages may be output to different 7-bit terminals. Using other code tables results in duplicate character assignment.

  The following characters may not be used in the message text, meaning text or response text if the texts are written in the standard languages, German and English. MSGMAKER issues a warning if one of these characters has been used. The restrictions do not apply to any other additionally defined languages.

  Code●	Character
  Hex code X' __'	4F	BB	BC	BD	FB	FD	FF
  International EBCDIC.DF.03	|	\	[	]	<	>	~
  German EBCDIC.DF.03	ö	Ö	Ä	Ü	ä	ü	ß

  Trailing blanks in a message text are suppressed. The last sentence or part sentence of a message text is ended without punctuation.

• Inserts

  Definition of inserts

  Up to 30 different inserts can be defined on a language-independent basis in the message texts of a message unit.
  The strings (&00), (&01) through (&29) are inserted in the message text; 00 through 29 are the numbers of the inserts. They can appear in any order in the text (e.g. 00, then 02, then 01) and do not have to be defined in an unbroken sequence (00, 08, 11).To ensure correct message output, it is essential for the defined inserts to be listed in the MSG7/MSG7X macro. If the message text contains more inserts than are specified in the macro call, the default text is used for each extra insert. If there is no default text, one of two things may occur:

  1. The number of the extra insert (e.g. (&02)) lies between the insert numbers specified in the macro call (e.g. (&00),(&01),(&03)). If this is the case an empty string is output.

  2. The number of the extra insert (e.g. (&03)) is higher than the insert numbers specified in the macro call (e.g. (&00),(&01),(&02)). The insert is not replaced, i.e. (&03) is output.

  If an entry is specified in the MSG7/MSG7X macro for an insert number that is not defined in the message text, MIP ignores the specification in the MSG7/MSG7X macro. No error message is issued.
  The default texts specified with MSGMAKER in the message replace the defined inserts only if no current text is defined in the MSG7/MSG7X macro.

  Insert names

  A mnemonic insert name can also be assigned to each insert. Insert names are used to create S variables.
  The assigned insert names are always converted to uppercase letters. For further information on the creation of S variables, see section "Output of messages in S variables".

  Default text for insert

  Text that is used instead of insert (&nn) in the output text. The default text is the contents of the I0 S variables (through I29).

  Automatic help

  The automatic /HELP-MSG-INFORMATION function is activated for the (part of) message code delivered as an insert value.

  Presentation of inserts in statements
  If an insert is defined in a message text using the statement //ADD-MSG or //MODIFY-MSG, the & character must be entered twice.

• Length of the message text

  The message text may be up to 220 characters long, including the strings (&00)... (&29). This length specification does not include the current contents that are to replace these strings when the message is output. When completed, therefore, the message text can contain more than 220 characters.

  Sample message text:

  MSG-TEXT =THIS MESSAGE WILL BE SENT TO THE DESTINATION "(&04)",^
IN LANGUAGE "(&00)", "(&01)" OR "(&02)"

  Maximum text length of messages displayed on data display terminals

  The maximum text length output by MSG7/MSG7X must not exceed 4079 characters. This includes the message text (without message code), insert values (possibly the default values), date and time (if required).

  In general the following applies: if a message text is too long, it is truncated when output. MSGMAKER issues no warning.

  Maximum text length of messages output to the console

  The maximum text length output by MSG7/MSG7X on the console is 230 characters, including the prefixed percentage sign % and the message code.

  MSGMAKER checks the length of the message text and of the default inserts. If the text length of 230 characters is exceeded, MSGMAKER issues a warning.

  The text length may vary depending on the current insert values or on the options of the MSG7/MSG7X macro. If TEXT-ONLY is specified, the message code is not output. The date and time entry preceding the message text may vary if DATESTAMP and TIMESTAMP are specified.