DIALOGUE Boxes

This is a very useful utility that can be used from GV or Non-GV written software. Similar in nature to the GVCNFM program initiated by the CONFIRM 4GL action.

It is actually a program that displays the contents of a message file message in a window and allows the entry of a variable size parameter to be passed back to the calling program. All the variables are controlled by parameters passed into the program when called.

The General Message Window Program is called GVGNMW and it resides in GVGPL along with the source to the program. Click here to see the parameters for the program.

To call the utility from GV programs you can use the new 4GL action 'DIALOGUE', 'MSGWINDOW' or 'GVGNMW'. These are Macros that will prompt you to fill in the parameters.

Note that you can position the window to the Left, Centre, or Right with parameter 1. and vertically with optional parameter 7.

Variable message data can be passed to the window with optional parameter 6.

Validman can be used to validate the reply typed in by the user using variable parameters 8 and 9.

When you view the message in GVGNMW you are viewing the first level message. By pressing F1 or Help at the window a second program GVGNMX is called which displays a full screen window which shows the first and second level message plus the entry box if there is one. If you need the large window as the first display because the dialogue needs a full explanation, GVGNMW can be called with parameter 'B' as the first parameter rather than 'L'/'C'/'R'.

If the calling program places the dialogue window over a piece of data on the calling program's display, the user can move the dialogue box to a different position on the display by moving the cursor to the place on the screen that they wish to move the box to and then pressing Enter.

If the message is not yet defined or the message needs to be corrected, the user can press F24 and this will take you to the standard GV message maintenance suite (but only if you are in a development environment)