Introduction to Pathmaker

Approaches for Using Pathmaker
Using Pathmaker—An Overview
3–10 067867 Tandem Computers Incorporated
There are several advantages to designing screen layouts after data for the application
has been defined in the Pathmaker catalog. These advantages are as follows:
Allowing the Pathmaker product to create the data fields and their associated
headings on requester screens from information in the catalog is much faster than
painting alone and allows the requester to be used for a production application
with much less modification.
When simulating a requester screen that contains data fields created from
information in the catalog, it is possible to key data into the data fields (although
the data is not retained.)
Designing screen layouts after data for the application has been defined in the
Pathmaker catalog is a good choice if an existing application is being converted or a
new application for an existing database is being written.
If, however, the screen painter is used to paint the screens, using underscores or other
characters to represent the data fields, the requesters for those screens can later be
converted into functioning requesters after data for the application has been defined in
the Pathmaker catalog.
Before deciding which of these methods to use, it is helpful to experiment with
converting decorations that represent data fields to functioning data fields using the
screen painter. Conversion can be a time-consuming process for a complex application
with many screens. If many screens with data fields on each screen have been painted,
it is probably more efficient to have the Pathmaker product re-create the default
screens after data for the application has been defined in the Pathmaker catalog
instead of having application developers convert each screen using the screen painter.
Using Simulation At any point after a requester has been defined, whether or not the data fields have
been described to the Pathmaker product, the requester can be simulated for end
users. After several requesters have been created, the navigation among their screens
can also be simulated. To use this feature, simply select simulation on the Pathmaker
Main Menu screen. The name of an existing requester must be entered; it is then
possible to move through the application’s user interface by using the function keys
defined for screen navigation.
During simulation, the Pathmaker product first displays the requester whose name
was entered on the Pathmaker Main Menu and then allows navigation to other
requesters in the application. During this process, the appearance of the application
can be demonstrated, but the requester cannot process data.