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Designing and Using Forms
This section covers the following topics:
• Data Fields
• How to Design Data Entry Forms
• How to Transfer Forms from the Screen to a Host Computer
• Enabling and Disabling Format Mode
• Terminal Operation in Format Mode
• How to Send Format Mode Data to a Host Computer
DATA FIELDS ON A DATA ENTRY FORM
Your form may contain three types of data field definitions; protected, unprotected, and
transmit-only.
Protected Data Fields
The terminal operator cannot alter or delete any characters that lie within a protected area.
Protected characters are not transmitted to the host computer. The line segments and annota-
tions that constitute the form's structure are designated as protected data.
Unprotected Data Fields
The operator enters data into unprotected fields. When the operator presses. the data in
unprotected fields is transmitted to the host computer. When a character is entered into the
last position of an unprotected field, the cursor automatically advances to the start of the
next unprotected field. The operator may also use the Tab keys to move the cursor to the start
of the next unprotected field.
Transmit-Only Fields
Transmit-only fields are similar to unprotected fields, in that they are also sent to the
computer when the operator presses the. key. These fields may be.modified by using the
cursor control keys or commands to position the cursor in the field. (The Tab keys skip over
transmit-only fields.) After reaching the end of the transmit-only field, the cursor moves to
the beginning of the next unprotected field.
Transmit-only fields are desirable when you want to send fixed data such as headings or
labels to the computer or when certain fields need to be modified only infrequently (e.g.
dates).
Security Fields
Data entered into a security field is not displayed when it is typed in. This type field is useful
for entering passwords or other security-sensitive data.
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