One of my users is having a bit of a problem with data entry thru a window and I can't seem to figure out how to correct it (if it's possible in the first place).

The user is entring in equipment record keys into a multivalue prompt that is grouped with other multivalue prompts. Part of the post processing on the equipment key prompt loads a couple of the other prompts within the group with default data. On the particular prompt that they are having a problem with a pre-prompt process makes sure that the Scribe edit flag is set to off (WC_SCRIBE_FLAGS%=OFF$). The reason for this is to help the user. The prompt is only one character wide, so with the flag set to off, wehen the user enters a character, the default character is overwriten. This advoids having to first delete the default character and then entering the one they want. Plus this makes sure that there is only one character at that location and not two (with one of them unseen because the prompt length is only one character wide).

The problem comes after the user has entered a different character than the default. The cursor is sitting next to (still int) the current prompt but hasn't moved to the next prompt yet. At this point the user doesn't have any more information to enter into the other multivalue prompts in the group so they hit F4 to change the Edit mode so they can then move the cursor back (by using the arrow keys) to enter in another equipment key. In hitting F4, the value in the current one character prompt turns back into the default character. That is where the problem lies.

I've looked thru the code relating to this prompt and the windows definitions behind the prompt and at the advanced window processes and I can't find anything that would programically cause this to happen. My conclusion is that this is a process of AREV. Is there any way to do what my user wants to do and keep the keystrokes to a minimum?

The main reason for this is the number of keystokes that it takes to enter in this data. The straight line approach would be for the user to hit F4 after entering in the data into the one character prompt and then use the arrow keys to move back to the equipment key prompt and then down one line. One of the ways that they can do it now is hit Enter after entering the one character into the prompt and just keep hitting Enter thru all of the other prompts in the group until it puts them at the next line in the equipment prompt. Or there are a couple of other girations they can go thru to get back to the equipment prompt.

If you have any information or ideas on this, it would be appreciated.

Thank You,

Michael Slack

I'm not sure I completely understand your situation. Why not simply set the data width limit to one character. Will that get you what you need?

Thank you. That is what I needed. I would have never thought of that.

Michael Slack

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