IBM 3270 Operator's Manual page 29

Numeric Fields
Fields that normally contain only numbers (Stock number, manufacturer's code
number, etc.) are known as Numeric fields. Such fields are used in organizations
whose jobs are largely of the data-entry type.
Entry of numeric data is made possible by use of a Data Entry keyboard
(described in Chapter 3). When your screen is formatted by your user's
program, the Data Entry keyboard automatically shifts to Upshift Mode
and the
It
(upshift) symbol appears in the Operator Information Area
when the cursor enters a numeric field. (If the Numeric Lock feature is
installed in your keyboard, the
NUM
shift symbol appears in the Operator
Information Area instead of the
It
symbol.) Therefore, if you have a
Data Entry keyboard, numeric fields help to increase your operating speed.
If you are using a Typewriter or Data Entry keyboard that has the Numeric Lock
feature installed, the NUM shift message appears in the Operator Information
Area when the cursor enters a Numeric field. When this occurs, the only keys
that you can key into the Numeric field are the digits 0 through 9, period ( . ),
minus ( - ), and the DUP key. Pressing any other key that can enter a display-
able character turns on the Do Not Enter - Numeric Data Only
(><
*NUM)
message in the Operator Information Area and disables your keyboard (keyboard
either starts or stops clicking). For additional information concerning the
Numeric Lock feature, refer to Chapter 4.
The user's program guide for the program that you are working with should
designate which the numeric fields are.
Figure 2·5 shows two other features of the 3278 that you can expect to see
often. The more apparent of these is called "High·Intensity Data."
High-Intensity Data
This feature of the 3278 allows the display of fields (selected by the application
program) at.a brighter than normal intensity. Use of this feature makes the
high-intensity fields stand out from the other fields displayed on the screen.
Many companies make effective use of this feature by displaying the field
names at normal intensity and the operator-keyed data at high intensity.
Protected Data
Not quite so obvious in the example in Figure 2-5 are the protected fields. They
are the fields displayed at low intensity. We mentioned before that, in most jobs:,
there will be some areas on the screen where you will not be able to type. You
will not be able to change field names (titles), for instance. In Figure 2-5,
STOCK NO is a field name and would probably be a protected field.
The protected·data feature aids your operation because you do not have to
worry about making a mistake and destroying part of the data on your screen.
A
>< ...
*....
(Go Elsewhere) message will come on in the Operator Infor-
mation Area (bottom of screen) if you attempt to change (type over, erase,
insert, or delete characters) any data in a protected field.
The blank field directly following "STOCK NO" is the unprotected stock
number input field. You would key stock numbers from your source document
into this field.
The user's program guide for the program that you are working with should
designate which fields on the screen contain protected data and which are your
inpu t fields.
2·14