Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual (G06.24+, H06.03+, Pathway/iTS 1.0+)

SCREEN COBOL Source Program
Compaq NonStop™ Pathway/iTS SCREEN COBOL Reference Manual426750-001
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Block Mode Program
Block Mode Program
To execute in block mode, a SCREEN COBOL program must be communicating with a
block mode terminal. The screen definitions for any SCREEN COBOL program are
restricted by the characteristics of the specific type of terminal on which your program
runs.
A SCREEN COBOL program running in block mode performs as follows:
Recognizes a specific terminal type
Displays a full screen of information on the terminal
Accepts data entered from the terminal one screen at a time
Recognizes function keys and associates each with a particular function (for
example, pressing the F1 function key might be associated with exiting from a
screen)
Conversational Mode Program
A SCREEN COBOL program written for conversational mode operation can run on
either a block mode terminal or a conversational mode terminal. Once a program is
specified as conversational, that program performs according to the restrictions for a
conversational terminal regardless of the type of terminal on which the program runs.
A SCREEN COBOL program running in conversational mode performs as follows:
Displays information on the terminal during a DISPLAY statement, one line at a
time
Accepts data entered from the terminal, one line at a time
Responds to a set of input-control characters when the terminal is enabled to accept
data
Recognizes only keyboard characters, carriage return, and line feed (not function
keys)
Restricts the display field attributes to BELL and HIDDEN
Intelligent Mode Program
A SCREEN COBOL program running in intelligent mode does not control how data
appears to the intelligent device nor does it perform any other device-dependent
functions. It is the responsibility of the intelligent device to read and process messages
sent by the SCREEN COBOL program and to reply in a format accessible to the
program.
A program that communicates with an intelligent device uses a Message Section instead
of a Screen Section. It describes data to be sent to or received from the intelligent
device in the Message Section. The program can also send data directly from Working-
Storage, bypassing the Message Section.