As mentioned above, the code supporting the help facility is inserted automatically for any attribute for which a help screen is defined.

When the user reaches an input for which a HELP is provided, it can be called up by hitting the HELP function key. Once this has been done, the HELP system is brought in, overlaying the current screen. The user would be presented with a display as shown below.

Note that the help text can appear TWICE on the display. The reason for this is that the help screen 'wraps' around and the help is duplicated to fill in the blank lines on the display.

The screen has a header identifying which file and which attribute on that file the help utility is currently refering to.

Within the help utility, the following functions are available to manipulate the help display.

Page forward

The help utility can only display 15 lines at a time. However, there may be many more than 15 lines of help text. The user can bring up the next 15 lines of display by hitting either the [PFWD] or the [DROP] function keys. Note that the system displays the line number within the the help text of the first line of help displayed on the screen. This is displayed in the bottom left hand corner of the help display.

Page back

Where the user wishes to review the previous 15 lines of the help text, they can do so by hitting the [PBACK] or [CLIMB] function keys.

Line forward

The page forward/back utiltiy display the text in block of 15 lines. However, there may be times when lines of help are split over two pages. The user can 'scroll' the display forwards and backwards a line at a time to finely adjust the display. To go forward a line, simply press the [RETURN] key.

Line back

To 'scroll' the display back 1 line, press the [CLIMB] function key.

Quit HELP

Where the user wishes to come out of the display they can do this by hitting the [EXIT] function key.

When the user comes out of the HELP system, the original PARADYME screen is reinstated and the user can continue from where they pressed the [HELP] key.