If you want to operate terminals in format mode for your UTM application, you can either use the BS2000 software products IFG (interactive format generator) and FHS (format handling system), or you can create your own formatting routine (FORMAT event exit).
openUTM on BS2000 systems distinguishes between *formats, +formats, #formats, and -formats, each with different functions and implementation options. When messages are sent and received, their format is specified by means of a format identifier. This identifier consists of the format type (first character) and the format name. To format *formats, +formats and #formats, openUTM uses the FHS format handling system, and to format -formats it uses the FORMAT event exit.
IFG format generator
The interactive format generator IFG enables formats to be created quickly and easily in dialog mode. IFG automatically generates appropriate data structures (= addressing tools), which you can integrate in your program units. The data structures can also be created for data in the Unicode format. IFG also provides support for managing and maintaining your format libraries.
| The interactive format generator IFG is described in a separate manual entitled “IFG”. |
FHS format handling system
The FHS format handling system supports the implementation of formats created with IFG. It offers a wide range of functions, including:
filling of message areas with freely selectable characters
identification of the fields selected by the terminal user
transfer of unprotected fields
transfer of fields modified by the terminal user
positioning of the cursor
automatic hardcopy
modification of display attributes
logging of messages to restore a corrupted format
processing of data in 7-bit code, 8-bit code, or Unicode
For communication with the FHS formatting system, openUTM uses the standard interface IUTMFORM.
IUTMFORM offers the following advantages:
This interface separates the products openUTM and FHS, which means for example that you can use the functions of a new FHS version while retaining the same openUTM version, or vice versa.
No FHS macros need be compiled during generation.
UTM program units can also communicate directly with FHS. The CALL KDCFHS call is used for this purpose.
The IUTMFORM interface is designed so that in principle it permits the connection of any formatting system and is thereby open to future developments. At present, only the FHS format handling system is supported on BS2000 systems.
You can use WebTransactions to convert FHS formats to HTML and thus integrate them in Web interfaces.
| The FHS format handling system is described in a separate manual entitled “FHS - Format Handling System for UTM, TIAM, DCAM”. |
FORMAT event exit
The FORMAT event exit is a formatting routine created by programmers themselves. Like the FHS formatting system standardly used by openUTM, this routine must be able to process physical input messages as well as create physical output messages - even after a screen restart. A local formatting routine is useful in the following cases:
if you require functions above and beyond the FHS functionality supported by openUTM
if you are using a formatting system other than FHS
if you want to operate terminals on the physical level
| The FORMAT event exit is described in the openUTM manual „Programming Applications with KDCS”. |
