General Mask Definition

In DataView you create a mask following a uniform scheme. The basic idea is to copy a default mask created during model definition including all its field assignments and to use it as a template for creating a new mask:

The creating and managing all masks and fields the following system forms are available:

Attention! Never modify default masks themselves. They are internally required by DataView. Always create a copy.

Note! To display relations and links in both lists and combined forms several autonomous mask objects must be created (e.g. a master form and an aggregate list for a 1:n relation). Before defining masks get information about -> Display Options and Call Methods of Masks and decide which masks you need.

How to Create a Mask with Fields (with Default Mask as Template):

  1. Open the Mask Data form and search for the default mask created during model definition. This will be used as template for the new mask.

    Depending on the content to be displayed in the mask you must select the following default mask as a template to be copied:

  2. Make sure that the index card with the Field Assignment sub-list is in the foreground. Only thus guarantees that the mask-field relation will also be copied when the mask is copied in the next step.

  3. Copy the default mask record, assign a new mask name and modify the following mask master attributes:

    Field Comment Confer
    Mask Name Here you specify a new mask name. Choose a syntax describing the relation to the mask template and differentiating between list and form.
    Mask Title Here you enter a mask title. It will automatically appear in the title bar. -> Mask title
    Row,
    Column
    Here you determine the position of the mask on the desktop or, in case of sub-masks, the position in the combined form. -> Position and size of masks
    Length,
    Width
    Here you determine the dimensions of the mask. If they are too small, scroll bars will be automatically added, provided that the following scroll bar flags have been set.
    Vertical, Horizontal Scroll Bar Here you activate the scroll bars. -> Scroll bars
    Significant Fields Starting with the first field of the mask you define a number of fields as significant here (e.g. with the entry 2 a number and name field). This definition results in a special representation of these fields in the mask. -> Significant fields
    Maximum Record Number Here you determine the maximum number of records that are locally loaded in the mask in case of a query. The value should not be higher than 0. -> Maximum number of records in the Mask
    Menu/Sel
    Menu/NoSel
    Menu/Edt
    Here you link existing context menus state-dependently with the mask by selecting the desired menu name. -> General menu definition
    -> Mask menus
    Button/Sel
    Button/NoSel
    Button/Edt
    Here you link existing button areas state-dependently with the mask by selecting the desired button area name. -> General button area definition
    -> Push buttons in masks
    -> Index card systems in forms

  4. Change into the Field Assignment sub-list and modify the mask-field relation attributes for each field contained in the mask.

    DataView has automatically copied all field assignments of the mask template into the list. You can edit the existing mask-field relation there.

    If you want to import additional table fields from other tables into the mask (or calculation fields already created in the field master), you will have to save first, then insert a new record in the sub-list and select the name of the desired field in the modal window. Please note that you only import table fields of connected tables.

    If you do not want to display certain table fields in the mask, you will have to save first, then select the desired field assignment in the sub-list and delete.

    Field Comment Confer
    Field Name For field assignments already copied you do not change the field name.
    A new field is imported by selecting it in the modal window. Table fields can be identified by their syntax TABLENAME.COLUMNNAME.
    If a mask component is to be inserted, a modified name is required.
    -> Mask components
    Sequence Here you specify the position number of the field. It determines the real field sequence in lists and the logical field sequence in forms. -> Field sequence and field position
    Order Here you use a number to specify the value of the field for sort procedures after database queries. If possible, assign the sort identifier for one field only in order not to reduce performance unnecessarily. This value can be changed by the user at run-time. -> Sorted query results from the database
    Row, Column Here you specify the position of the field in forms. For fields in lists the entries will be ignored. -> Field sequence and field position
    -> Display of logical fields (check boxes)
    Length, Width
    Virtual Width
    Here you specify the field dimensions. The row length of fields in lists is always 1.
    You only explicitly define a virtual width if the defined (visible) width of the field is smaller than required by the field content (lack of space), else you enter 0.
    Access Flags A, U, I, Q Here you specify field access in Mask-Edit state, in A mode-independent, in U, I, Q mode-dependent. With Z = empty entry you can make the field invisible. -> Field access
    -> Visibility of fields
    Video Here you select the color of the field content (1.digit) and the field background (2.digit). -> Color settings for fields and field titles
    Menu
    Menu type
    Here you link the field to a selection tool.
    For mask components you enter the mask name here.
    -> Selection tool at fields
    -> Modal windows at fields
    -> Mask components
    Pre_Field Userexit
    Post_Field Userexit
    Hyper-field Userexit
    Here you can install userexits at field triggers. If a userexit requires parameters, you enter them separated by a space after the userexit. -> Field trigger
    -> List of standard field userexits

    After saving both the copied mask in the header form as well as all field assignments will have been logically defined in the sub-list.

  5. Change into the Field Default sub-list, overwrite mask-independent field master attributes with mask-specific values and edit the field title attribute for each field contained in the mask.

    You will see some field master attributes twice in the mask. The columns without the identifier ...-M show the mask-independent field master attributes. They cannot be edited and are for information only. In the masks with the identifier ...M you can overwrite them mask-specifically. If you do not enter anything, the entry in the mask-independent field master attributes will remain valid for the mask.

    Field Comment Confer
    Field Name Here the field name or a component placeholder is displayed. Entering new fields is only possible in the Field Assignment sub-list. -
    Sequence Here the position number of the field is displayed. Changes can only be made in the Field assignment sub-list. -
    Title-M, Title Here you can enter a mask-specific field title. In lists it appears as column title, in forms as field title.
    Graphical objects and image files in forms require special entries.
    -> Field Title
    -> Graphical objects and images in forms
    Description-M, Description Here you can enter a mask-specific help-text for the field. It appears in the footer line when the field is edited. -> Description for fields (field help)
    Check String-M, Check String Here you can enter a mask-specific string for a syntax check of field entries. -> Check string for field entries
    Default value-M, Default value Here you can assign a mask-specific default value to the field. -> Automatic assignment of default values to fields
    Title Row, Title Column Here you determine the position of a field title or a graphical object in forms. For field titles in lists the entries will be ignored. -> Field Title
    -> Graphical objects and images in forms
    Title Length, Title Width Here you determine the dimensions of a field title or a graphical object in forms. For field titles in lists the entries are ignored.
    Video Title Here you select the color of the title text (1.digit) and the title background (2.digit). -> Color settings for fields and field titles

    After saving the field default assignments the mask will have been logically defined.

  6. Change into the Additional Attributes sub-form and install the trigger functionality of the mask (additional mask master attributes).

    Field Comment Confer
    Pre-Mask userexit
    Post-mask userexit
    Here you can install userexits at mask triggers. If a userexit requires parameters, you enter them separated by a space after the userexit. -> Mask triggers
    -> List of standard mask userexits
    Select-Action userexit
    Edit-Action userexit
    Pre-Action userexit
    Post-Action userexit
    Here you install userexits at action-triggers. If a userexit requires parameters, you enter them separated by a space after the userexit. -> Action triggers
    -> List of standard mask userexits
    Join Definition Here you enter a Join condition, e.g. if you want to make queries in the mask depend on data in disconnected tables. -> Join conditions

    After saving the trigger functions at the mask will have been installed.

  7. Change into the Mask Data header form and create the mask in main memory via Reconfigure.

    DataView creates the mask and copies it into main memory. It is available as interaction object on the user interface and can be called via menu items, buttons or events.