Introduction to Pathmaker

The Architecture of a Pathmaker Application
Pathmaker Applications
2–4 067867 Tandem Computers Incorporated
Function Key Actions Each Pathmaker requester screen can utilize many function keys. In a Pathmaker
application, pressing a function key initiates one, and only one, action. The actions
available are as follows:
Processing:
Invoke a service to perform a specific task (usually after data has been entered
on the screen).
Execute additional SCREEN COBOL requester code added by the application
developer. (This additional code is placed in a special file called a requester
copy library.)
Screen Navigation:
Go to another requester.
Display a different page of a screen.
Return to a previous requester.
Screen Support:
Print the information appearing on a screen.
Display the defaults for the data fields on this screen.
Display help text for this screen.
Recover the screen after a terminal failure.
Help for the End User Each Pathmaker requester provides help text to assist the end user in using the
application.
The help text normally consists of information on the general purpose of the requester
and on the purpose of and allowable values for data fields appearing on the requester
screen. A complete list of the available function keys for the requester is also
provided. The end user can quickly scroll through the help text on a help screen that
is included with every application created with the Pathmaker product.
The end user displays the help screen by pressing the appropriate function key (F3 is
the default.) The position of the cursor when the function key is pressed determines
which portion of the help text is displayed first. When the end user returns from the
help screen, the requester screen and any data previously entered is redisplayed.
Figure 2-2 shows an example of two pages of help text displayed on the help screen.
The help screen is accessed from the application screen shown in Figure 2-3 when the
end user positions the cursor next to the title of the screen (Department 905 Employee
Information) and presses F3. In this example, the application developer provided help
text for only two of the data fields and two of the function keys found on the requester
screen.