Back to Contents

Array Input

Summary:

• Basics
• Syntax
• Usage
  • Programming Steps
  • Variable Binding
  • Instruction Configuration
  • Default Actions
  • Control Blocks
  • Control Blocks Execution Order
  • Interaction Blocks
  • Control Instructions
  • Control Class
  • Control Functions
• Examples
  • Basic INPUT ARRAY
  • INPUT ARRAY using default values
  • INPUT ARRAY using dynamic array
  • INPUT ARRAY updating database table

See also: Arrays, Records, Result Sets, Programs, Windows, Forms, Display Array

Basics

The INPUT ARRAY instruction associates a program array of records with a screen-array defined in a form so that the user can update the list of records. The INPUT ARRAY statement activates the current form (the form that was most recently displayed or the form in the current window):

During the INPUT ARRAY execution, the user can edit or delete existing rows, insert new rows, and move inside the list of records. The user can insert new rows with the insert key, which is by default F1, or delete existing rows with the delete key, which is by default F2. The program controls the behavior of the instruction with control blocks:

To terminate the INPUT ARRAY execution, the user can validate (or cancel) the dialog to commit (or invalidate) the modifications made in the list of records:

When the statement completes execution, the form is de-activated. After the user terminates the input (for example, with the Accept key), the program must test the INT_FLAG variable to check if the dialog was validated (or canceled) and then use INSERT, DELETE, or UPDATE SQL statements to modify the appropriate database tables. The database can also be updated during the execution of the INPUT ARRAY statement.

INPUT ARRAY

Purpose:

The INPUT ARRAY supports data entry by users into a screen array and stores the entered data in an array of records.

Syntax:

INPUT ARRAY array
  [ WITHOUT DEFAULTS ]
  FROM screen-array.*  
  [ ATTRIBUTES ( { display-attribute | control-attribute } [,...] ) ]
  [ HELP help-number ]
[ dialog-control-block
  [...]
END INPUT ]

where dialog-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE INPUT
| AFTER INPUT
| AFTER DELETE
| BEFORE ROW
| AFTER ROW
| BEFORE FIELD field-spec
| AFTER FIELD field-spec
| ON ROW CHANGE
| ON CHANGE field-spec
| ON IDLE idle-seconds
| ON ACTION action-name
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] )
| BEFORE INSERT
| AFTER INSERT
| BEFORE DELETE
}
     dialog-statement
     [...]

where dialog-statement is one of:

{ statement
| ACCEPT INPUT
| CONTINUE INPUT
| EXIT INPUT
| NEXT FIELD { CURRENT | NEXT | PREVIOUS | field-name }
| CANCEL DELETE
| CANCEL INSERT
}

where field-spec is:

{ field-name
| table-name.field-name
| screen-array.field-name
| screen-record.field-name
} [,...]

Notes:

1. array is the array of records that will be filled by the INPUT ARRAY statement.
2. help-number is an integer that allows you to associate a help message number with the instruction.
3. field-name is the identifier of a field of the current form.
4. table-name is the identifier of a database table of the current form.
5. screen-record is the identifier of a screen record of the current form.
6. screen-array is the screen array that will be used in the form.
7. action-name identifies an action that can be executed by the user.
8. idle-seconds is an integer literal or variable that defines a number of seconds.
9. key-name is a hot-key identifier (like F11 or Control-z).
10. statement is any instruction supported by the language.

The following table shows the options supported by the INPUT ARRAY statement:

The following table shows the display-attributes supported by the INPUT ARRAY statement.  The display-attributes affect console-based applications only, they do not affect GUI-based applications.

The following table shows the control-attributes supported by the INPUT ARRAY statement:

Usage

Programming Steps 

The following steps describe how to use the INPUT ARRAY statement:

1. Create a form specification file containing a screen array. The screen array identifies the presentation elements to be used by the runtime system to display the rows.
2. Make sure that the program controls interruption handling with DEFER INTERRUPT, to manage the validation/cancellation of the interactive dialog.
3. Define an array of records with the DEFINE instruction. The members of the program array must correspond to the elements of the screen array, by number and data types. If you want to input data from a reduced set of columns, you must define a second screen array, containing the limited list of form fields, in the form file. You can then use the second screen array in an INPUT ARRAY a FROM sa.* instruction.
4. Open and display the form, using a OPEN WINDOW with the WITH FORM clause or the OPEN FORM / DISPLAY FORM instructions.
5. If needed, fill the program array with data, for example with a result set cursor, counting the number of program records being filled with retrieved data.
6. Inside the INPUT ARRAY statement, control the behavior of the instruction with control blocks such as BEFORE INPUT, BEFORE INSERT, BEFORE DELETE, BEFORE ROW, BEFORE FIELD, AFTER INSERT, AFTER DELETE, AFTER FIELD, AFTER ROW, AFTER INPUT and ON ACTION blocks.
7. After the INPUT ARRAY statement, test the INT_FLAG pre-defined variable to check if the interactive dialog was canceled ( INT_FLAG = TRUE ) or validated ( INT_FLAG = FALSE ).
8. Get the new number of rows with the ARR_COUNT() built-in function.
9. If needed, get the current row with the ARR_CURR() built-in function.

Warnings:

1. You can only use the CANCEL INSERT keyword in the BEFORE INSERT or AFTER INSERT blocks.
2. You can only use the CANCEL DELETE keyword in the BEFORE DELETE block.
3. For the HELP and WITHOUT DEFAULTS options, the order of appearance is important : the last option overrides the previous one!

Variable Binding

The INPUT ARRAY statement binds the members of the array of record to the screen array fields specified with the FROM keyword. The number of variables in each record of the program array must be the same as the number of fields in each screen record (that is, in a single row of the screen array).

When using a static array, the initial number of rows is defined by the COUNT attribute and the size of the array determines how many rows can be inserted. When using a dynamic array, the initial number of rows is defined by the number of elements in the dynamic array (the COUNT attribute is ignored). The size of the input array is unlimited. In both cases, the maximum number of rows the user can enter can be defined with the MAXCOUNT attribute.

The FROM clause binds the screen records in the screen array to the program records of the program array. The form can include other fields that are not part of the specified screen array, but the number of member variables in each record of the program array must equal the number of fields in each row of the screen array. When the user enters data, the runtime system checks the entered value against the data type of the variable, not the data type of the screen field.

The variables of the record array are the interface to display data or to get the user input through the INPUT ARRAY instruction. Always use the variables if you want to change some field values programmatically. When using the UNBUFFERED attribute, the instruction is sensitive to program variable changes. If you need to display new data during the INPUT ARRAY execution, use the UNBUFFERED attribute and assign the values to the program array row; the runtime system will automatically display the values to the screen:

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.* ATTRIBUTES(UNBUFFERED)
02    ON CHANGE code
03       IF p_items[arr_curr()].code = "A34" THEN
04          LET p_items[arr_curr()].desc = "Item A34"
05       END IF
06 END INPUT

The member variables of the records in a program array can be of any data type. If a variable is declared LIKE a SERIAL column, the runtime system does not allow the screen cursor to stop in the field, as values in SERIAL columns are automatically generated by the database server, not by the runtime system.

The default order in which the focus moves from field to field in the screen array is determined by the declared order of the corresponding member variables, in the array of the record definition. The program options instruction can also change the behavior of the INPUT ARRAY instruction, with the INPUT WRAP or FIELD ORDER FORM options.

When the INPUT ARRAY instruction executes, it displays any column default values in the screen fields, unless you specify the WITHOUT DEFAULTS keywords. The column default values are specified in the form specification file with the DEFAULT attribute or in the database schema files.

Instruction Configuration

The ATTRIBUTES clause specifications override all default attributes and temporarily override any display attributes that the OPTIONS or the OPEN WINDOW statement specified for these fields. While the INPUT ARRAY statement is executing, the runtime system ignores the INVISIBLE attribute.

• HELP option
• WITHOUT DEFAULTS option
• FIELD ORDER FORM option
• UNBUFFERED option
• COUNT option
• MAXCOUNT option
• ACCEPT option
• CANCEL option
• APPEND ROW option
• INSERT ROW option
• DELETE ROW option
• AUTO APPEND option
• KEEP CURRENT ROW option

HELP option

The HELP clause specifies the number of a help message to display if the user invokes the help while the focus is in any field used by the instruction. The predefined help action is automatically created by the runtime system. You can bind action views to the 'help' action.

Warnings:

1. The HELP option overrides the HELP attribute!

WITHOUT DEFAULTS option

Indicates if the data rows must be filled (FALSE) or not (TRUE) with the column default values defined in the form specification file or the database schema files. The bool parameter can be an integer literal or a program variable that evaluates to TRUE or FALSE.

FIELD ORDER FORM option

By default, the form tabbing order is defined by the variable list in the binding specification. You can control the tabbing order by using the FIELD ORDER FORM attribute. When this attribute is used, the tabbing order is defined by the TABINDEX attribute of the form items. With FIELD ORDER FORM, if you jump from one field to a another with the mouse, the BEFORE FIELD / AFTER FIELD triggers of intermediate fields are not executed (actually, the Dialog.fieldOrder FGLPROFILE entry is ignored)

If the form uses a TABLE container, the front-end resets the tab indexes when the user moves columns around. This way, the visual column order always corresponds to the input tabbing order. The order of the columns in an editable list can be important; you may want to freeze the table columns with the UNMOVABLECOLUMNS attribute.

UNBUFFERED option

The UNBUFFERED attribute indicates that the dialog must be sensitive to program variable changes. When using this option, you bypass the traditional "buffered" mode.

When using the traditional " buffered" mode, program variable changes are not automatically displayed to form fields; You need to execute a DISPLAY TO or DISPLAY BY NAME. Additionally, if an action is triggered, the value of the current field is not validated and is not copied into the corresponding program variable. The only way to get the text of the current field is to use GET_FLDBUF().

If the "unbuffered" mode is used, program variables and form fields are automatically synchronized. You don't need to display explicitly values with a DISPLAY TO or DISPLAY BY NAME. When an action is triggered, the value of the current field is validated and is copied into the corresponding program variable.

COUNT option

The COUNT attribute defines the number of valid rows in the static array to be  displayed as default rows. If you do not use the COUNT attribute, the runtime system cannot determine how much data to display, so the screen array remains empty. You can also use the SET_COUNT() built-in function, but it is supported for backward compatibility only. The COUNT option is ignored when using a dynamic array. If you specify the COUNT attribute, the WITHOUT DEFAULTS option is not required because it is implicit. If the COUNT attribute is greater as MAXCOUNT, the runtime system will take MAXCOUNT as the actual number of rows. If the value of COUNT is negative or zero, it defines an empty list.

MAXCOUNT option

The MAXCOUNT attribute defines the maximum number of rows that can be inserted in the program array. This attribute allows you to give an upper limit. When using a dynamic array, the user can enter an infinite number of rows unless the MAXCOUNT attribute is used. When using a static array and MAXCOUNT is greater than the size of the declared static array, the original static array size is used as the upper limit. If MAXCOUNT is negative or equal to zero, user cannot insert rows. 

ACCEPT option

The ACCEPT attribute can be set to FALSE to avoid the automatic creation of the accept default action. This option can be used for example when you want to write a specific validation procedure, by using ACCEPT INPUT.

CANCEL option

The CANCEL attribute can be set to FALSE to avoid the automatic creation of the cancel default action. This is useful for example when you only need a validation action (accept), or when you want to write a specific cancellation procedure, by using EXIT INPUT.

Note that if the CANCEL=FALSE option is set, no close action will be created, and you must write an ON ACTION close control block to create an explicit action.

APPEND ROW option

The APPEND ROW attribute can be set to FALSE to avoid the automatic creation of the append default action, and deny the user to add rows at the end of the list. If APPEND ROW = FALSE, the user can still insert rows in the middle of the list. Use the INSERT ROW attribute to disallow the user from inserting rows.

INSERT ROW option

Using the INSERT ROW attribute, you can define with a Boolean value whether the user is allowed to insert new rows in the middle of the list. However, even if INSERT ROW is FALSE, the user can still append rows at the end of the list. Use the APPEND ROW attribute to disallow the user from appending rows.

DELETE ROW option

Using the DELETE ROW attribute, you can define with a Boolean value whether the user is allowed to delete rows (TRUE) or not allowed to delete rows (FALSE).

AUTO APPEND option

By default, an INPUT ARRAY controller creates a temporary row when needed (for example, when the user deletes the last row of the list, an new row will be automatically created). You can prevent this default behavior by setting the AUTO APPEND attribute to FALSE. If this attribute is set to TRUE, the only way to create a new temporary row is to execute the append action.

KEEP CURRENT ROW option

Depending on the list container used in the form, the current row may be highlighted during the execution of the dialog, and cleared when the instruction ends. You can change this default behavior by using the KEEP CURRENT ROW attribute, to force the runtime system to keep the current row highlighted. 

Default Actions

When an INPUT ARRAY instruction executes, the runtime system creates a set of default actions. See the control block execution order to understand what control blocks are executed when a specific action is fired.

The following table lists the default actions created for this dialog:

The insert, append, delete, accept and cancel default actions can be avoided with dialog control attributes:

01  INPUT ARRAY arr TO sr.* ATTRIBUTES( INSERT ROW=FALSE, CANCEL=FALSE, ... )
02       ...

Control Blocks

• BEFORE INPUT block
• AFTER INPUT block
• BEFORE FIELD block
• AFTER FIELD block
• ON CHANGE block
• BEFORE ROW block
• ON ROW CHANGE block
• AFTER ROW block
• BEFORE INSERT block
• AFTER INSERT block
• BEFORE DELETE block
• AFTER DELETE block

BEFORE INPUT block

The BEFORE INPUT block is executed one time, before the runtime system gives control to the user. You can implement initialization in this block.

AFTER INPUT block

The AFTER INPUT block is executed one time, after the user has validated or canceled the dialog, and before the runtime system executes the instruction that appears just after the INPUT ARRAY block. You typically implement dialog finalization in this block. The AFTER INPUT block is not executed if EXIT INPUT executes.

BEFORE ROW block

The BEFORE ROW block is executed each time the user moves to another row. This trigger can also be executed in other situations, such as when you delete a row, or when the user tries to insert a row but the maximum number of rows in the list is reached (see Control Blocks Execution Order for more details).

You typically do some dialog setup / message display in the BEFORE ROW block, because it indicates that the user selected a new row or entered in the list.

When the dialog starts, BEFORE ROW will be executed for the current row.

When called in this block, the ARR_CURR()  function returns the index of the current row.

In the following example, the BEFORE ROW block gets the new row number and displays it in a message:

01 INPUT ARRAY ...
02    ...
03    BEFORE ROW
04      MESSAGE "We are on row # ", arr_curr()
05    ...
06 END INPUT

ON ROW CHANGE block

An ON ROW CHANGE block is executed when the user moves to another row after modifications have been done in the current row. It is triggered if the value of a field has changed since the row was entered and if the 'touched' flag of the corresponding field is set. The field might not be the current field, and several field values can be changed.

The 'touched' flag is set on user input or when doing a DISPLAY TO or a DISPLAY BY NAME. Note that the 'touched' flag is reset for all fields when entering another row, or when leaving the dialog instruction.

You can, for example, code database modifications (UPDATE) in this block. This block is executed before the AFTER ROW block if defined. When called in this block, the ARR_CURR() function returns the index of the current row where values have been changed.

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.*
02    ON ROW CHANGE
03       UPDATE items SET
04               items.code        = p_items[arr_curr()].code,
05               items.description = p_items[arr_curr()].description,
06               items.price       = p_items[arr_curr()].price,
07               items.updatedate  = TODAY
08              WHERE items.num = p_items[arr_curr()].num
09 ...

AFTER ROW block

The AFTER ROW block is executed each time the user moves to another row,  before the current row is left. This trigger can also be executed in other situations, such as when you delete a row, or when the user inserts a new row. see Control Blocks Execution Order for more details.

A NEXT FIELD executed in the AFTER ROW control block will keep the user entry in the current row. Thus you can use this to implement row input validation and prevent the user from leaving the list or moving to another row.

When called in this block, the ARR_CURR()  function return the index of the row that you are leaving.

Warnings:

1. When leaving a temporary row that will be removed because user goes to a previous row in the list, AFTER ROW is executed for the temporary row, but ARR_CURR() will be one row greater as ARR_COUNT(). You should not access a dynamic array with a row index that is greater as the total number of rows, otherwise the runtime system will adapt the total number of rows to the actual number of rows in the program array.

In the following example, the AFTER ROW block checks a variable value and forces the user to stay in the current row if the value is wrong:

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.*
02    AFTER ROW
03       IF arr_curr()>0 AND arr_curr() <= arr_count() THEN
04         IF NOT item_is_valid_quantity(p_item[arr_curr()].item_quantity) THEN
05            ERROR "Item quentity is not valid"
06            NEXT FIELD item_quantity
07       END IF
08      END IF
09 ...

BEFORE FIELD block

A BEFORE FIELD block is executed each time the cursor enters into the specified field, when moving the focus from field to field in the same row, or when moving to another row.

The BEFORE FIELD block is also executed when using NEXT FIELD.

ON CHANGE block

The ON CHANGE block is executed when another field is selected, if the value of the specified field has changed since the field got the focus and if the 'touched' field flag is set. The 'touched' flag is set when a user modification is done or when doing a DISPLAY TO or a DISPLAY BY NAME. Once set, the 'touched' flag is not reset until the end of the dialog.

For fields defined as RadioGroup, ComboBox, SpinEdit, Slider, and CheckBox views, the ON CHANGE block is fired immediately when the user changes the value. For other type of fields (like Edits), the ON CHANGE block is fired when leaving the field. You leave the field when you validate the dialog, when you move to another field, or when you move to another row in an INPUT ARRAY. Note that the dialogtouched predefined action can also be used to detect field changes immediately, but with this action you can't get the data in the target variables (and it should only be used to detect that the user has started to modify data)

If both an ON CHANGE block and AFTER FIELD block are defined for a field, the ON CHANGE block is executed before the AFTER FIELD block.

When changing the value of the current field by program in an ON ACTION block, the ON CHANGE block will be executed when leaving the field if the value is different from the reference value and if the 'touched' flag is set (after previous user input or DISPLAY TO / DISPLAY BY NAME).

When using the NEXT FIELD instruction, the comparison value is re-assigned as if the user had left and re-entered the field. Therefore, when using NEXT FIELD in an ON CHANGE block or in an ON ACTION block, the ON CHANGE block will only be fired again if the value is different from the reference value. Therefore, it is recommended not to attempt field validation  in ON CHANGE blocks: you would do better to perform validations in AFTER FIELD blocks and/or AFTER INPUT blocks.

AFTER FIELD block

An AFTER FIELD block is executed each time the cursor leaves the specified field, when moving the focus from field to field in the same row, or when moving to another row.

BEFORE INSERT block

The BEFORE INSERT block is executed each time the user inserts a new row, before the new row is created and made the current one.

You typically assign default values to the array variables of the newly created row, before the user gets control to enter more values and validates the row creation.

When called in this block, the ARR_CURR() function returns the index of the newly created row. The row in the program array can be referenced with this index, since the new element is already created in the array. Note that the BEFORE ROW block is also executed (just before BEFORE INSERT) when inserting a new row, but the current row index returned by ARR_CURR() is one higher than the actual number of rows in the list (arr_count()). 

If needed, you can cancel the insert operation with the CANCEL INSERT instruction. Note that this control instruction can only be used in a BEFORE INSERT or AFTER INSERT block. When a CANCEL INSERT is performed in BEFORE INSERT, the dialog will execute some control blocks such as AFTER ROW / BEFORE ROW / BEFORE FIELD for the current row, even if no new row was inserted.

In the following example, the BEFORE INSERT block sets some default values and displays a message:

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.*
02    BEFORE INSERT
03       LET r = DIALOG.getCurrentRow("s_items")
04       LET p_items[r].item_num = getNewSerial("items")
05       LET p_items[r].item_code = "C" || p_items[r].item_num
06       LET p_items[r].item_price = 100.00
07       MESSAGE "You are creating a new record..."
08 ...

AFTER INSERT block

The AFTER INSERT block is executed each time the user leaves a new created row. This block is typically used to implement SQL command that inserts a new row in the database. You can cancel the operation with the CANCEL INSERT instruction.

Warning: When the the user appends a new row at the end of the list, then moves UP to another row or validates the dialog, the AFTER INSERT block is only executed if at least one field was edited. If not data entry is detected, the dialog automatically removes the new appended row and thus does not trigger the AFTER INSERT block.

In the following example, the AFTER INSERT block inserts a new row in the database and cancels the operation if the SQL command fails:

01 INPUT ARRAY
02    ...
03    AFTER INSERT s_items
04       LET r = DIALOG.getCurrentRow("s_items")
05       INSERT INTO items VALUES ( p_items[r]. * )
06       IF SQLCA.SQLCODE < 0 THEN
07         ERROR "Could not insert row into database"
08         CANCEL INSERT
09       END IF
10    ...
11 END INPUT

BEFORE DELETE block

The BEFORE DELETE block is executed each time the user deletes a row, before the row is removed from the list.

You typically code the database table synchronization in the BEFORE DELETE block, by executing a DELETE SQL statement using the primary key of the current row. In the BEFORE DELETE block, the row to be deleted still exists in the program array, so you can access its data to identify what record needs to be removed.

If needed, the deletion can be canceled with the CANCEL DELETE instruction.

When called in this block, the ARR_CURR() function returns the index of the row that will be deleted.

In the following example, the BEFORE DELETE block removes the row from the database table and cancels the deletion operation if an SQL error occurs:

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.*
02    BEFORE DELETE
03       WHENEVER ERROR CONTINUE
04       DELETE FROM items WHERE item_num = p_items[arr_curr()].item_num
05       WHENEVER ERROR STOP
06       IF SQLCA.SQLCODE<>0 VALUES
07          ERROR SQLERRMESSAGE
08          CANCEL DELETE
09       END IF
10 ...

AFTER DELETE block

The AFTER DELETE block is executed each time the user deletes a row, after the row has been deleted from the list.

When an AFTER DELETE block executes, the program array has already been modified; the deleted row no longer exists in the array. Note that the ARR_CURR() function returns the same index as in BEFORE ROW, but it is the index of the new current row. Note that the AFTER ROW block is also executed. Pay particular attention when deleting the last row in the list; in this case, the current row index returned by ARR_CURR() is one higher than the actual number of rows in the list (ARR_COUNT()).

Warnings:

1. When deleting the last row of the list, AFTER DELETE is executed for the delete row, and ARR_CURR() will be one row greater as ARR_COUNT(). You should not access a dynamic array with a row index that is greater as the total number of rows, otherwise the runtime system will adapt the total number of rows to the actual number of rows in the program array. 

In the following example, the AFTER DELETE block is used to re-number the rows with a new item line number (note ARR_COUNT() may return zero):

01 INPUT ARRAY p_items FROM s_items.*
02    AFTER DELETE
03       LET r = arr_curr()
04       FOR i=r TO arr_count()
05           LET p_items[i].item_lineno = i
06       END FOR
07 ...

Control Block Execution Order

The following table shows the order in which the runtime system executes the control blocks in the INPUT ARRAY instruction, according to the user action:

Interaction Blocks

• ON IDLE block
• ON ACTION block
• ON KEY block

ON IDLE block

The ON IDLE idle-seconds clause defines a set of instructions that must be executed after idle-seconds of inactivity. For example, this can be used to quit the dialog after the user has not interacted with the program for a specified period of time. The parameter idle-seconds must be an integer literal or variable. If it evaluates to zero, the timeout is disabled. 

01 ...
02    ON IDLE 10
03       IF ask_question("Do you want to leave the dialog?") THEN
04          EXIT INPUT
05       END IF
06 ...

ON ACTION block

You can use ON ACTION blocks to execute a sequence of instructions when the user raises a specific action. This is the preferred solution compared to ON KEY blocks, because ON ACTION blocks use abstract names to control user interaction.

01 ...
02    ON ACTION zoom
03       CALL zoom_customers() RETURNING st, cust_id, cust_name
04       ...

ON KEY block

For backward compatibility, you can use ON KEY blocks to execute a sequence of instructions when the user presses a specific key. The following key names are accepted by the compiler:

Control Instructions

• CONTINUE INPUT instruction
• EXIT INPUT instruction
• ACCEPT INPUT instruction
• CANCEL INSERT instruction
• CANCEL DELETE instruction
• NEXT FIELD instruction
• CLEAR field-list instruction

Continuing the dialog: CONTINUE INPUT

CONTINUE INPUT skips all subsequent statements in the current control block and gives the control back to the dialog. This instruction is useful when program control is nested within multiple conditional statements, and you want to return the control to the dialog. Note that if this instruction is called in a control block that is not AFTER INPUT, further control blocks might be executed according to the context. Actually, CONTINUE INPUT just instructs the dialog to continue as if the code in the control block was terminated (i.e. it's a kind of GOTO end_of_control_block). However, when executed in AFTER INPUT, the focus returns to the current row and current field in the list, giving the user another chance to enter data in that field. In this case the BEFORE ROW and BEFORE FIELD triggers will be fired.

In the following example, an ON ACTION block gives control back to the dialog, skipping all instructions below line 04:

01    ON ACTION zoom
02       IF p_cust.cust_id IS NULL OR p_cust.cust_name IS NULL THEN
03         ERROR "Zoom window cannot be opened if there is no info to identify the customer"
04         CONTINUE INPUT
05       END IF
06       IF p_cust.cust_address IS NULL THEN
07       ...

Note that you can also use the NEXT FIELD control instruction to give the focus to a specific field and force the dialog to continue. However, unlike CONTINUE INPUT, the NEXT FIELD instruction will also skip the further control blocks that are normally executed.

Leaving the dialog: EXIT INPUT

You can use the EXIT INPUT to terminate the INPUT ARRAY instruction and resume the program execution at the instruction following the INPUT ARRAY block.

01    ON ACTION quit
02       EXIT DIALOG

When leaving the INPUT ARRAY instruction, all form items used by the dialog will be disabled until another interactive statement takes control.

Validating the dialog: ACCEPT INPUT

The ACCEPT INPUT instruction validates the INPUT instruction and exits the INPUT ARRAY instruction if no error is raised. The AFTER FIELD, ON CHANGE, etc. control blocks will be executed. Statements after the ACCEPT INPUT will not be executed.

Input field validation is a process that does several successive validation tasks, as listed below:

1. The current field value is checked, according to the program variable data type (for example, the user must input a valid date in a DATE field).
2. NOT NULL field attributes are checked for all input fields. This attribute forces the field to have a value set by program or entered by the user. If the field contains no value, the constraint is not satisfied. Note that input values are right-trimmed, so if the user inputs only spaces, this corresponds to a NULL value which does not fulfill the NOT NULL constraint.
3. INCLUDE field attributes are checked for all input fields. This attribute forces the field to contain a value that is listed in the include list. If the field contains a value that is not in the list, the constraint is not satisfied.
4. REQUIRED field attributes are checked for all input fields. This attribute forces the field to have a default value, or to be 'touched' by the user or programmatically. If the field was not edited during the dialog, the constraint is not satisfied.

If a field does not satisfy one of the above constraints, dialog termination is canceled, an error message is displayed, and the focus goes to the first field causing a problem.

Canceling row insertion: CANCEL INSERT

Insertion can be canceled, by using the CANCEL INSERT instruction, in the BEFORE INSERT or AFTER INSERT blocks. Using this instruction in a different place will generate a compilation error.

The instructions that appear after CANCEL INSERT will be skipped.

A CANCEL INSERT executed inside a BEFORE INSERT block prevents the new row creation. The following tasks are performed:

1. No new row will be created (the new row is not yet shown to the user).
2. The BEFORE INSERT block is terminated (further instructions are skipped).
3. The BEFORE ROW and BEFORE FIELD triggers are executed.
4. Control goes back to the user.

For example, you can cancel a row insertion if  the user is not allowed to create rows:

01    BEFORE INSERT
02       IF user_can_insert() == FALSE THEN
03          ERROR "You are not allowed to insert rows"
04          CANCEL INSERT
05       END IF

A CANCEL INSERT executed inside an AFTER INSERT block removes the newly created row. The following tasks are performed:

1. The newly created row is removed from the list (the row exists now and user has entered data).
2. The AFTER INSERT block is terminated (further instructions are skipped).
3. The BEFORE ROW and BEFORE FIELD triggers are executed.
4. The control goes back to the user.

For example, you can cancel a row insertion if a database error occurs when you try to insert the row into a database table:

01    AFTER INSERT
02       WHENEVER ERROR CONTINUE
03       INSERT INTO customer VALUES ( arr[arr_curr()].* )
04       WHENEVER ERROR STOP
05       IF SQLCA.SQLCODE<>0 THEN
06          ERROR SQLERRMESSAGE
07          CANCEL INSERT
08       END IF

If the CANCEL INSERT is done while on a new row that was appended to the end of the list, the new row will be removed and the previous row will get the focus. If there are no more existing rows, the list loses the focus because no row can be edited. The next time the user clicks in a cell, DIALOG will automatically create a new row.

You can also disable the insert and append actions to prevent the user from performing these actions with:

01    CALL DIALOG.setActionActive("insert", FALSE)
02    CALL DIALOG.setActionActive("append", FALSE)

Canceling row deletion: CANCEL DELETE

Deletion can be canceled, by using the CANCEL DELETE instruction in the BEFORE DELETE block. Using this instruction in a different place will generate a compilation error.

When the CANCEL DELETE instruction is executed, the current BEFORE DELETE block is terminated without any other trigger execution (no BEFORE ROW or BEFORE FIELD is executed), and the program execution continues in the user event loop.

For example, you can prevent row deletion based on some condition:

01    BEFORE DELETE
02       IF user_can_delete() == FALSE THEN
03          ERROR "You are not allowed to delete rows"
04          CANCEL DELETE
05       END IF

The instructions that appear after CANCEL DELETE will be skipped.

You can also disable the delete action to prevent the user from performing a delete row action with:

01    CALL DIALOG.setActionActive("delete", FALSE)

Moving to a field: NEXT FIELD

The NEXT FIELD field-name instruction gives the focus to the specified field. You typically use this instruction to control field input dynamically, in BEFORE FIELD or AFTER FIELD blocks, or to control row validation in AFTER ROW.

Abstract field identification is supported with the CURRENT, NEXT and PREVIOUS keywords. These keywords represent respectively the current, next and previous fields, corresponding to variables as defined in the input binding list (with the FROM or BY NAME clause).

Non-editable fields are fields defined with NOENTRY attribute or using a widget that does not allow input, such as a LABEL. If a NEXT FIELD instruction selects a non-editable field, the next editable field gets the focus (defined by the FIELD ORDER FORM mode used by the dialog). However, the BEFORE FIELD and AFTER FIELD blocks of non-editable fields are executed when a NEXT FIELD instruction selects such a field.

When using NEXT FIELD in AFTER ROW or in ON ROW CHANGE, the dialog will stay in the current row and give the control back to the user. This behavior allows to implement data input rules:

01 ...
02    AFTER ROW
03       IF NOT int_flag AND arr_curr() <= arr_count() THEN
04         IF arr[arr_curr()].it_count * arr[arr_curr()].it_value > maxval THEN
05           ERROR "Amount of line exceeds max value."
06           NEXT FIELD item_count
07       END IF
09 ...

For compatibility reasons, NEXT FIELD in AFTER INSERT will not stay in the current row.

Clearing the form fields: CLEAR field-list

For backward compatibility, the CLEAR field-list instruction is provided to clear a specific field or all fields in a line of the screen array. You can specify the screen array as described in the following table:

Warnings:

1. When using the UNBUFFERED attribute, it is recommended that you do NOT use the CLEAR instruction; always use program variables to set field values to NULL.

Control Class

Inside the dialog instruction, the predefined keyword DIALOG represents the current dialog object. It can be used to execute methods provided in the dialog built-in class.

For example, you can enable or disable an action with the ui.Dialog.setActionActive() dialog method, and you can hide and show the default action view with ui.Dialog.setActionHidden():

01 ...
02    BEFORE INPUT
03       CALL DIALOG.setActionActive("zoom",FALSE)
04    AFTER FIELD field1
05       CALL DIALOG.setActionHidden("zoom",1)
06 ...

The ui.Dialog.setFieldActive() method can be used to enable or disable a field during the dialog. This instruction takes an integer expression as argument.

01 ...
02    ON CHANGE custname
03       CALL DIALOG.setFieldActive( "custaddr", (cust_arr[arr_curr()].custname IS NOT NULL) )
04 ...

Control Functions

The language provides several built-in functions and operators to use in an INPUT ARRAY statement. You can use the following built-in functions to keep track of the relative states of the current row, the program array, and the screen array, or to access the field buffers and keystroke buffers:

• ARR_CURR()
• ARR_COUNT()
• FGL_SET_ARR_CURR()
• SET_COUNT()
• FIELD_TOUCHED()
• GET_FLDBUF()
• INFIELD()
• FGL_DIALOG_GETFIELDNAME()
• FGL_DIALOG_GETBUFFER()

Examples

Example 1: Basic INPUT ARRAY

Form definition file (custlist.per):

01 DATABASE stores
02 LAYOUT
03 TABLE
04 {
05  Id       First name   Last name
06 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
07 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
08 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
09 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
10 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
11 [f001    |f002        |f003        ]
12 } 
13 END
14 END
15 TABLES
16   customer
17 END
18 ATTRIBUTES
19   f001 = customer.customer_num ;
20   f002 = customer.fname ;
21   f003 = customer.lname ;
22 END
23 INSTRUCTIONS
24   SCREEN RECORD sr_cust[6]( customer.* );
25 END

Program source code:

01 MAIN
02     DEFINE custarr ARRAY[500] OF RECORD
03            id INTEGER,
04            fname CHAR(30),
05            lname CHAR(30)
06     END RECORD
07     
08     OPEN FORM f FROM "custlist"
09     DISPLAY FORM f
10     
11     INPUT ARRAY custarr WITHOUT DEFAULTS FROM sr_cust.*
12 END MAIN

Example 2: INPUT ARRAY using default values

The form definition file is the same as in example 1.

01 MAIN
02     DEFINE allow_insert INTEGER
03     DEFINE size INTEGER
04     DEFINE custarr ARRAY[500] OF RECORD
05             id INTEGER,
06             fname CHAR(30),
07             lname CHAR(30)
08     END RECORD
09     LET custarr[1].id = 1
10     LET custarr[1].fname = "John"
11     LET custarr[1].lname = "SMITH"
12     LET custarr[2].id = 2
13     LET custarr[2].fname = "Mike"
14     LET custarr[2].lname = "STONE"
15     LET size = 2
16     LET allow_insert = TRUE
17     
18     OPEN FORM f1 FROM "custlist"
19     DISPLAY FORM f1
20     
21     INPUT ARRAY custarr WITHOUT DEFAULTS FROM sr_cust.*
22         ATTRIBUTES (COUNT=size, MAXCOUNT=50, UNBUFFERED, INSERT ROW=allow_insert)
23         BEFORE INPUT
24           MESSAGE "Editing the customer table"
25         BEFORE INSERT  
26           IF arr_curr()=4 THEN
27              CANCEL INSERT
28           END IF 
29         BEFORE FIELD fname
30           MESSAGE "Enter First Name"
31         BEFORE FIELD lname
32           MESSAGE "Enter Last Name"
33         AFTER FIELD lname
34           IF custarr[arr_curr()].lname IS NULL THEN
35              LET custarr[arr_curr()].fname = NULL
36           END IF
37     END INPUT
38 END MAIN

Example 3: INPUT ARRAY using a dynamic array

The form definition file is the same as in example 1.

01 MAIN
02     DEFINE counter INTEGER
03     DEFINE custarr DYNAMIC ARRAY OF RECORD
04             id INTEGER,
05             fname CHAR(30),
06             lname CHAR(30)
07     END RECORD
10     FOR counter = 1 TO 500 
11       LET custarr[1].id = counter
12       LET custarr[1].fname = "ff"||counter
13       LET custarr[1].lname = "NNN"||counter
14     END FOR
15     
16     OPEN FORM f FROM "custlist"
17     DISPLAY FORM f
18     
19     INPUT ARRAY custarr WITHOUT DEFAULTS FROM sr_cust.*
20         ATTRIBUTES ( UNBUFFERED )
21         ON ROW CHANGE
22           MESSAGE "Row #"||arr_curr()||" has been updated."
23     END INPUT
24 END MAIN

Example 4: INPUT ARRAY updating the database table

The form definition file is the same as in example 1.

01 MAIN
02
03    DEFINE custarr DYNAMIC ARRAY OF RECORD
04          id INTEGER,
05          fname CHAR(30),
06          lname CHAR(30)
07    END RECORD
08
09    DEFINE op CHAR(1)
10 
11    OPEN FORM f1 FROM "custlist"
12    DISPLAY FORM f1
13 
14    INPUT ARRAY custarr FROM sr1.* ATTRIBUTES(WITHOUT DEFAULTS, UNBUFFERED)
15 
16         BEFORE DELETE
17           IF op == "N" THEN -- No real SQL delete for new inserted rows
18              IF NOT mbox_yn("List", "Are you sure you want to delete this record?", "question") THEN
19                CANCEL DELETE -- Keeps row in list
20              END IF
21              DELETE FROM customer WHERE customer_num = custarr[arr_curr()].id
22              IF SQLCA.SQLCODE<0 THEN
23                ERROR "Could not delete the record from database!"
24                CANCEL DELETE -- Keeps row in list
25              END IF
26           END IF
27 
28         AFTER DELETE
29           MESSAGE "Record has been deleted successfully"
30 
31         AFTER FIELD fname
32           IF custarr[arr_curr()].fname MATCHES "*@#$%^&()*" THEN
33              ERROR "This field contains invalid characters"
34              NEXT FIELD CURRENT
35           END IF
36 
37         ON ROW CHANGE
38           -- Warning: ON ROW CHANGE can occur if the SQL INSERT failed... 
39           IF op != "I" THEN LET op = "M" END IF
40 
41         BEFORE INSERT
42           LET op = "T"
43           LET custarr[arr_curr()].id = arr_count()
44 
45         AFTER INSERT
46           LET op = "I"
47 
48         BEFORE ROW
49           LET op = "N"
50 
51         AFTER ROW
52           IF int_flag THEN EXIT INPUT END IF
53           IF op == "M" OR op == "I" THEN
54              IF custarr[arr_curr()].fname IS NULL OR custarr[arr_curr()].fname IS NULL
55                 OR custarr[arr_curr()].fname == custarr[arr_curr()].lname THEN
56                 ERROR "First name and last name are equal..."
57                 NEXT FIELD fname
58              END IF
59           END IF
60           IF op == "I" THEN
61              INSERT INTO customer VALUES ( custarr[arr_curr()].* )
62              IF SQLCA.SQLCODE<0 THEN
63                  ERROR "Could not insert the record into database!"
64                  NEXT FIELD CURRENT
65              END IF
66           END IF
67           IF op == "M" THEN
68              UPDATE customer SET fname = custarr[arr_curr()].fname, lname = custarr[arr_curr()].lname
69                   WHERE customer_num = custarr[arr_curr()].id
70              IF SQLCA.SQLCODE<0 THEN
71                 ERROR "Could not update the record in database!"
72                 NEXT FIELD CURRENT
73              END IF
74           END IF
75 
76    END INPUT
77 
78 END MAIN