Uses for Dialogue Manager

In this section:

Reference:

The following are ways to use Dialogue Manager to control the flow of your application:

You can also use Dialogue Manager commands and variables to:

Reference: Overview of Dialogue Manager Commands

For descriptions and syntax, see Dialogue Manager Quick Reference.

Command

Meaning

-*

Is a comment line; it has no action.

-CLOSE ddname

Closes the specified ‑READ or ‑WRITE file.

-CLOSE *

Closes all -READ and -WRITE files currently open.

-CRTCLEAR

Clears the screen display.

-CRTFORM

Initiates full-screen variable data entry.

-DEFAULT
-DEFAULTS

Presets initial values for variable substitution.

-EXIT

Executes stacked commands and returns to the FOCUS prompt.

-GOTO

Establishes an unconditional branch.

-HTMLFORM

For use with the Web Interface to FOCUS.

-IF

Tests and branches control based on test results.

-INCLUDE

Dynamically incorporates one procedure in another.

-label

User-supplied name identifying the target for -GOTO or -IF.

-MVS RUN

Same as -TSO RUN.

-PASS

Sets password directly.

-PROMPT

Types a prompt message on the screen and reads a reply.

-QUIT

Exits the procedure without executing stacked commands.

-READ

Reads records from a sequential file.

-READFILE

Reads fields based on a Master File into Dialogue Manager variables.

-REPEAT

Executes a loop.

-RUN

Executes all stacked FOCUS commands and returns to procedure for further processing.

-SET

Assigns a value to a variable.

-TSO RUN

In MVS/TSO, loads and executes a user-written function.

-TYPE

Types informative messages to the screen or other output device.

-WINDOW

Invokes Window Painter, transferring control from the procedure to the specified window file.

-WRITE

Writes a record to a sequential file.

-"..."

Brackets contents for -CRTFORM display line.

-? SET parameter 
&myvar

Captures the value of a settable parameter in &myvar.

-? &[variablename]

Displays the values of currently defined amper variables.

Dialogue Manager Variables Overview

You can write procedures containing variables which values are unknown until run time, allowing a user to customize the procedure by supplying different values each time it executes. Variables fall into two categories:

For complete information, see Using Variables in a Procedure, Supplying and Verifying Values for Variables, and Manipulating and Testing Variables.


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