Version 5.3.1
 —  Natural Construct Administration and Modeling  —

Introduction to Natural Construct

This section introduces you to Natural Construct. It describes how to access the subsystems, use PF-keys, and access the online help. It includes sections on translating to upper case, handling messages, storing saved modules, and using direct commands.

This section covers the following topics:


What is Natural Construct?

Natural Construct is a set of tools for application developers. Created for Software AG’s Natural/Predict environment, it helps application developers achieve higher productivity goals than are obtainable using Natural and Predict alone. At the same time, Natural Construct helps standardize and control the application development process.

Natural Construct provides a series of models you can use to create different Natural modules (objects). The following table lists the advantages of using Natural Construct-generated modules over modules created in Natural alone:

Advantage Benefits
Standardization and quality Create a consistent user interface and code structure.
Reusage Once your model is tested and debugged, it can be used by multiple users, problem free. Models help share your Natural expertise, making optimal use of available talent.
Increase productivity These benefits include:
  • Reduce design considerations

  • Speed up implementation

  • Reduce testing requirements

Minimize errors Avoid errors that are introduced by program cloning.

Natural Construct Subsystems

Natural Construct is comprised of the following subsystems:

Subsystem Description
Administration Used by the Natural Construct administrator to define custom models and maintain the models Natural Construct uses to generate programs. The Administration subsystem is described in detail in this documentation.
Generation Used by the developer to define specifications for the Natural Construct models and generate the following modules:
  • programs

  • subprograms

  • helproutines

  • subroutines

  • copycode

  • maps

  • parameter data areas

  • local data areas

  • global data areas

  • Predict program descriptions

  • code blocks

  • JCL text (mainframe)

  • User exit code

For information about this subsystem, refer to Natural Construct Generation.

Help Text Used by documenters or developers to create and maintain help text at the map and/or input field level. For information about this subsystem, refer to Natural Construct Help Text.

Top of page

Access Natural Construct

You can access the Administration subsystem in standard or translation mode. Translation mode allows you to create multilingual specification panels for developers, as well as dynamically maintain the panel components.

This section describes how to access each Natural Construct subsystem, how to access the Administration subsystem in standard and translation mode, and how to access the generation facilities from a steplib with Natural Security installed.

Note:
Always terminate Natural Construct by pressing the quit PF-key or entering a period (.) in the input field on the main menu. This method ensures proper cleanup of the environment.

Natural Construct Libraries

While other Software AG products can be accessed from other libraries, they run exclusively in their own product library (SYSSEC, SYSPAC, SYSDIC, for example). Natural Construct does not run exclusively out of its product library, SYSCST. It also must also run out of the application libraries in the FUSER file.

Typically, Natural Construct developers access Natural Construct using the NCSTG or NCSTH command from any library. These commands invoke modules in the SYSLIB and SYSLIBS libraries. The CD-HELP* modules in the SYSLIBS library provide online help for Natural Construct screens.

Natural Construct also allows administrators and modelers to customize the standard Natural Construct models. These users access Natural Construct using the CSTG or CSTH command from the SYSCST library. All changes are confined to this library, which allows administrators to test customizations without affecting developers and their applications.

Since administrators can customize help modules like CD-HELP*, copies of these modules are also stored in the SYSCST library. Any changes to these modules do not affect developers because they use the CD-HELP* routines in the SYSLIBS library. Typically, modelers access Natural Construct using the CSTG or CSTH command.

Once a Natural Construct modeler creates or maintains a model, all customized modules must be copied to the appropriate library.

Copies of Natural Construct are stored in the following libraries:

graphics/cst-libraries.png

Each library is available to different users and contains different subsystems. The libraries are:

SYSLIBS Library

The SYSLIBS library contains modules used by Natural Construct. The following table indicates who can use the library, the subsystems it contains, and the command entered at the Next prompt to invoke each subsystem:

Authorized Users Subsystems Command to Invoke Each Subsystem
All users Generation "ncstg "
  Help Text "ncsth"

SYSTEM (FNAT) Library

The SYSTEM library contains modules used by Natural Construct-generated applications. The following table indicates who can use the library, the subsystems it contains, and the command entered at the Next prompt to invoke each subsystem:

Authorized Users Subsystems Command to Invoke Each Subsystem
All users Generation "ncstg "
  Help Text "ncsth"

SYSCST Library

The SYSCST library is used to modify the supplied models or create new ones. The following table indicates who can use the library, the subsystems it contains, and the command entered at the Next prompt to invoke each subsystem:

Authorized Users Subsystems Command to Invoke Each Subsystem
Administrators Administration "menu" (standard mode)

"menut" (translation mode)

  Generation "ncstg"
  Help Text "ncsth"

SYSCSTX Library

The SYSCSTX library contains sample routines provided with Natural Construct. The routines can be used as is or modified as desired.

SYSCSTDE, SYSCSTD2, SYSCSTDV, and SYSCSTDS Libraries

These libraries contain the Natural Construct demo system for different systems. To invoke the demo system, enter "menu" at the Next prompt in the applicable library.

USERLIB Library

This library is created by Natural Construct users.

Execute Generation Facilities from a Steplib with Natural Security Installed

With Natural Security installed, you can access the Natural Construct generation facilities from a steplib. This allows you to override the supplied model subprograms at a higher level steplib without disturbing the modules supplied by Natural Construct.

For example, you can define the following steplibs in your development library:

Using this configuration, you can easily change your standards without disturbing the supplied modules. To modify any modules in the SYSCST or SYSTEM library that are affected by changes, copy them into the CSTMODS library.

Note:
You can also define multiple modification libraries in the steplib chain (to reflect corporate versus application standards).

When accessing Natural Construct from a steplib, the highest level steplib should contain a replacement for the NCSTG program. For example:

FETCH 'CSTG'
END

Otherwise, the NCSTG program invokes the version of Natural Construct stored in the SYSLIBS library.

Note:
If Natural Security is not installed, refer to USR1025P in the SYSEXT library for an example of how to set up your steplibs.

Top of page

Use Standard PF-Keys

Throughout the Natural Construct system, certain PF-keys have standard functions (pressing the PF1 key invokes online help, for example). The PF-key lines, which are typically located at the bottom of panels, display the PF-key functions for that panel.

Notes:

  1. PF-keys 13 to 24 are equivalent to PF-keys 1 to 12, respectively. However, only PF1 to PF12 are displayed.
  2. You can change the function and/or description associated with each key (for more information, see Access the Administration Main Menu). Within this documentation, the default values are used.

The standard PF-keys and functions are:

PF-Key Name Function
PF1 help Displays help for a particular panel or field.
  • When the cursor is in a field followed by an asterisk (*), displays a window from which you can select a valid value for the field. For information, see Field-Level Help.

  • When the cursor is in a field not followed by an asterisk (*), displays help information for that field. For information, see Panel-Level Help.

  • When the cursor is anywhere on the panel except a field, displays help for the entire panel

Note:
An asterisk is the default help indicator for Natural Construct. The help indicator for your organization may be different.

PF2 retrn Displays the previous panel. Pressing PF2 is equivalent to entering a period (.) in the Function field on a menu.
PF3 quit Terminates the Natural Construct session. In most cases, a confirmation window is displayed when you press PF3. Press PF3 again to complete the termination process.
PF7 bkwrd Scrolls backward (up) through data.
PF8 frwrd Scrolls forward (down) through data.
PF10 left Displays the panel to the left of the current panel. If you are currently on the first panel in a series of panels, pressing PF10 displays the last panel in the series.
PF11 right Displays the panel to the right of the current panel. If you are currently on the last panel in a series of panels, pressing PF11 displays the first panel in the series.
PF12 main Displays the Natural Construct Administration main menu.

Help and Return Codes on Menus

On each Natural Construct menu, you are given the options “?” and “.” as valid menu codes. Typing a question mark (?) in the Function field and pressing Enter displays help for that panel. It is equivalent to pressing PF1 (help). Typing a period (.) and pressing Enter terminates the current program and returns you to the previous menu. It is equivalent to pressing PF2 (retrn).

Top of page

Access Online Help

Natural Construct provides extensive online help. You can display both general help information for each panel (panel-level help) or help for a specific field (field-level help). This section covers the following topics:

Panel-Level Help

While you are using Natural Construct, you can display help information about the current panel by moving the cursor anywhere on the panel (except an input field) and pressing PF1 (help).

Note:
If the cursor is positioned in an input field when you request help, Natural Construct displays help information for that field. For more information, see Field-Level Help.

The following example shows the panel-level help for the Administration main menu:

                               Panel Help                                
                        Administration Main Menu                         
                                                                         
  This menu lists the functions available within the Administration      
  subsystem; you use these functions to perform various administrative   
  duties within Construct.                                               
                                                                         
  For translation mode details, see:                                     
   <<Administration Main Menu>>                                          
                                                                         
  For example, you use these functions to:                               
  - maintain the Construct control record defaults, such as the          
    default PF-key settings and dynamic attribute characters             
  - maintain the Construct components, such as the code frames and       
    subprograms used by each model                                       
  - invoke the supplied utilities to compare models or code frames       
  - use the supplied driver programs to invoke many of the internal      
    Construct subprograms                                                
  Page ... : 1  / 2                                                      
  Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF1  
  frwrd help  retrn quit                    bkwrd frwrd                  
  Help for: P/CS/CSDMNM0/1                                               

Field-Level Help

Natural Construct has two types of field-level help: passive and active. Passive field-level help displays a description of a field on a panel. Active field-level help displays a selection window containing the valid values for a field. If active help is available, the field is followed by an asterisk (*).

Passive

Start of instruction setTo display passive field-level help:

  1. Move the cursor to any field that is not followed by an asterisk (*).

  2. Press PF1 (help).

Note:
You can also type a question mark (?) in the first-character position of any field that is not followed by an asterisk (*) and press Enter (mainframe).

Active

Start of instruction setTo display active field-level help:

  1. Move the cursor to a field that is followed by an *.

  2. Press PF1 (help).

Note:
You can also type a question mark (?) in the first-character position of any field that is followed by an asterisk (*) and press Enter (mainframe).

The following example shows the active help window for the Relationship name field:

          CPHRL               Natural Construct               CPHRL0  
          Aug 20         Select Predict Relationship          1 of 1  
                                                                      
          Relationship                     Relationship type          
          -------------------------------- ------------------------   
          NCST-CUSTOMER-ORDER-HEADER       Natural Construct          
          NCST-LINE-HAS-DISTRIBUTION       Natural Construct          
          NCST-ORDER-HAS-LINES             Natural Construct          
          NCST-POLICY-COVERS-VEHICLES      Natural Construct          
          NCST-POLICY-HAS-INQUIRIES        Natural Construct          
          NCST-POLICY-IS-FOR-CUSTOMER      Natural Construct          
          NCST-PRODUCT-ORDER-LINES         Natural Construct          
          NCST-VEHICLES-HAVE-COVERAGES     Natural Construct          
          NCST-VEHICLES-MUST-EXIST         Natural Construct          
          NCST-WAREHOUSE-CUSTOMER          Natural Construct          
          Relationship  .......... ________________________________   
          Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9-  
                help  retrn                         bkwrd frwrd       
          Position cursor or enter screen value to select             

Start of instruction setTo select a value from the help window:

  1. Move the cursor to the line containing the value.

  2. Press Enter.

    You are returned to the original panel and the selected value is displayed in the field for which you requested help.

Top of page

Convert Text to Upper Case

Natural Construct automatically performs the commands to convert text from lower or mixed case to upper case where appropriate. Headings are displayed exactly as entered (lower or upper case), but if certain specifications must be in upper case, Natural Construct converts them. When Natural Construct ends, the case setting is restored to the default value.

Note:
If you are a mainframe user, specify your teleprocessing (TP) monitor’s command for lower case. In Com-Plete, for example, issue the LOW command.

Top of page

Maintain Messages for Generated Programs

Natural Construct supports multilingual messages for your generated programs. If you use message numbers, the message text for the specified language is retrieved at execution time. If you use message text, the text for the specified language is inserted into the program at generation time.

You can change or add to these messages using the SYSERR utility. For all REINPUT and INPUT message numbers, you can also use the SYSERR utility to add other languages. Generation and CDUTRANS messages are stored in the CSTAPPL library. For information about defining references, see Define SYSERR References.

Note:
Natural Construct sounds an alarm and displays warning messages for errors. Ensure the alarm on your terminal is set to an audible volume.

Top of page

Store Saved Modules

Any module generated by the default generators and saved by Natural Construct is stored as a Natural structured mode object in the current library. You can edit this module as you would any structured mode Natural object.

Top of page

Use Direct Commands

To navigate within the Administration subsystem, you can enter codes on menus, press PF-keys, or issue direct commands. Direct commands take you to any function or menu within the subsystem without using intervening menus. They are useful for experienced users who know the menu structure, valid menu codes, and the required parameters at each menu level. The following example shows the Command line:

Command ______________________________________________________________

You can string together as many commands as you like. If one of the codes is not valid on the corresponding menu, Natural Construct displays that menu so you can enter a valid code.

The following diagram illustrates a sample direct command:

graphics/sample-direct-command.png

This direct command accesses the Code Frame Menu (menu code F on the Administration main menu) and the Edit Code Frame function (menu code E on the Code Frame menu) and displays the code frame called “FRAME” with the description, “DESCRIPTION”, in the Code Frame editor.

A direct command contains the codes you enter on successive menus. Each direct command must begin with a valid menu code. When entering a direct command, leave a space between menu codes to indicate a new menu or level. To indicate parameters that are at the same level, use a slash (/) to separate them.

When you enter direct commands on the command line for a menu, Natural Construct first determines whether the code is a valid option on that menu. If no code on the current menu matches the first code in the direct command, Natural Construct checks the main menu for a match.

You can also issue direct commands at the Natural Next prompt (Direct command box for Unix). While you are in the SYSCST library, for example, you can enter the following direct command to access the Administration subsystem (MENU) and edit the code frame, FRAME, with the description, DESCRIPTION:

MENU F E/FRAME/DESCRIPTION

Top of page