Within PARADYME, all function keys are 'soft coded'. This means that the character on the keyboard that equates to a particular function can be tailored to suit the user. The characters that represent particular functions are held in the PARADYME COMMON area. The variables that contain the character that equates to a particular function are given below.

 FUNCTION$

This is not a COMMON area variable. It is a value returned from the PARADYME input routine PD.INPUT. If one of the functions has been selected by the user then FUNCTION$ is set to the value of that function. If no function has been selected by the user then FUNCTION$ is set to null. Thus, if one was testing to see if the user had hit the HELP key then the test would be:-


			IF FUNCTION$ = HELP$ THEN ..... 

The following variables are those variables that represent the function keys that are available within the system.

 PFWD$

This variable holds the character that equates to PAGE FORWARD. Within a window, this indicates to the system to go to the next beginning of a page of the window.

 PBACK$

This variable holds the character that equates to PAGE BACK. Within a window, this indicates to the system to go to the last beginning of a page of the window.

 DROP$

This variable holds the character that equates to DROP. Within a window, this indicates to the system to go to the next beginning of a line of associated multivalues.

 CLIMB$

This variable holds the character that equates to CLIMB. Within a window, this indicates to the system to go to the last beginning of a line of associated multivalues.

 UP$

This variable holds the character that equates to UP. This indicates to the system to go to the last input field on the screen.

It should be noted that if this function is entered by the user then the value of FUNCTION$ is NOT UP$ but is in fact BACK$. Thus, if the user wishes to test whether to carry out processing which is dependant on the user having selected the BACK ONE FIELD function, the test would be


			IF FUNCTION$ = BACK$ THEN ..... 

 BACK$

This variable holds the character that equates to BACK. This indicates to the system to go back one character when inputting a value (See note above).

 EXIT$

This variable holds the character that equates to EXIT. If the user is on the first prompt in a routine that requires a key input or anywhere in a screen that has no key input, it indicates to the system to exit from the screen and return to the calling program.

 CLEAR$

This variable holds the character that equates to CLEAR. This indicates to the system to abort processing of the current record WITHOUT filing any changes, clear down the display of data on the screen and prompt the user at the first prompt on the screen. It has no effect in a screen that has no key input.

In setting up the function keys, it may be convenient to set up EXIT$ and CLEAR$ to the same value. This would then give the user a single ABORT button which will cancel any modifications the user may have made.

 HOME$

This variable holds the character that equates to HOME. This indicates to the system to go from the current prompt to the first prompt field after the last key input field or to the first prompt field if no key is input in this screen.

 INS$

This variable holds the character that equates to INSERT. If entered for the first prompt of a set of associated multi-values, it indicates to the system to insert nulls at the current value position for all associated attributes, redisplay the window and prompt the user for entry of the first value in the association.

 DEL$

This variable holds the character that equates to DELETE. If entered for the first prompt of a set of associated multi-values, it indicates to the system to delete all values in associated attributes at the current value position, redisplay the window and prompt the user at the first value in the association.

If entered elsewhere it will delete the field at which the cursor is currently positioned.

It should be noted that hitting this function results in the value display being blanked out. It is only on pressing [RETURN] that the value is actually deleted. Until pressing [RETURN] the value is retained by the system and can be re-instated either by entering a non-valid input or hitting some other function key.

 HELP$

This variable holds the character that equates to HELP. If a help screen is available for the user then the user will drop into the HELP system. After finishing with the HELP screen, the user will be returned to the prompt where the HELP key was initially struck.

 INVERT$

This variable holds the character that equates to INVERT. It is intended that this key be used to provided the user with access to further information or routines such as details of cross reference files and their IDs.

This function key does not have code generated for it by PARADYME but has been provided for use in inserts. It can be thought of as a 'spare' function key which the user can do with as required.