TRANSFER Programming Manual
Designing Input Screens
Developing TRANSFER Applications
8–6 40970 Tandem Computers Incorporated
Designing Input
Screens
If your application involves users at terminals, design the input screens and establish
conventions for reporting errors.
Determine what screens are needed, how the screens should be grouped, and what
path the user should take while progressing through particular screen sequences.
As an example:
A client presents a user with a logon screen.
After the user logs on, the client produces a menu screen from which the user can
select various groups of functions, such as functions that allow the user to
compose a package.
After a group is selected, the client allows the user to choose a specific function,
such as add a new item or modify an existing one.
Screen design should be consistent. You can provide consistency by selecting a
standard screen layout. You could divide each screen in the application into four basic
areas that always appear in the same locations on each screen:
Screen identification and headings
Screen body
An area for special instructions to the operator
An area for error message reporting
The example in Figure 8-2 shows the PS MAIL 6530 screen for displaying the contents
of an INBOX folder.
Figure 8-2. PS MAIL Scan Screen
PS MAIL SCAN SCREEN Page 1 MORE
FOLDER: INBOX
FROM SUBJECT TYPE SENT
GRAY_DONALD @FM Work progress 91-06-26
JAMES_THOMAS @MK TEACHING FITNESS CLASS 91-06-26
BROWN_IRMELA Status 91-06-26
SAWYER_KATHY @SV status, etc. REPLY 91-06-26
MARTIN_HARRY @PR Index REPLY 91-06-26
SAWYER_KATHY @SV You may have heard 91-06-26
HOWARD_WESLEY @EA Upgrade? 91-06-26
SMITH_AMY @PO Interested in these diagrams? 91-06-26
SMITH_AMY @PO diagrams 91-06-25
JONES_BOB @CO SOFTDOCS available 91-06-25
RANDALL_JOE Schedule 91-06-25
SAWYER_KATHY @SV External Spec for review! FORWARD 91-06-25
WOODS_JIM @COMM2 Development Status 91-06-25
F1=Scan SF1=Show F2=Read F4=Reply F5=Forward F6=Delete F7=Add
F8=File SF8=Format F9=Print SF9=Copy F10=Create F12=Edit F14=Profile
F15=Help SF15=Extras F16=Return SF16=Main