Initializing a Map

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# Initializing a Map

This section describes how to define the settings (profile) for a new map or help map.

When you select the function Initialize New Map or Initialize a New Help Map, the first screen to be invoked is the Define Map Settings screen shown in the example below:

    13:14:20               Define Map Settings for MAP                   2014-07-14

     Delimiters           Format                         Context
     -----------------    ---------------------------    --------------------------
     Cls Att CD  Del      Page Size ...... 31            Device Check .... ________
      T   D      BLANK    Line Size ...... 79            WRITE Statement   _
      T   I      ?        Column Shift ... 0 (0/1)       INPUT Statement   X
      A   D      _        Layout ......... ________      Help  ____________________
      A   I      )         dynamic ....... N (Y/N)        as field default N (Y/N)
      A   N      ^        Zero Print ..... N (Y/N)
      M   D      &        Case Default ... UC (UC/LC)
      M   I      :        Manual Skip .... N (Y/N)       Automatic Rule Rank  1
      O   D      +        Decimal Char ... .             Profile Name .... SYSPROF
      O   I      (        Standard Keys .. N (Y/N)
                          Justification .. L (L/R)       Filler Characters
                          Print Mode ..... __            ------------------------
                                                         Optional, Partial ....
                          Control Var .... ________      Required, Partial ....
                                                         Optional, Complete ...
                                                         Required, Complete ...

    Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
          Help        Exit                                                  Let

The sections contained in the Define Map Settings screen are described in the following section.

- Delimiters

- Format

- Context

- Filler Characters

## Delimiters

The Delimiters section of the Define Map Settings screen displays the default delimiters that apply to the current map.

A delimiter is used to assign characteristics to a field. Field characteristics are the class (for example, input/output field), attribute (for example, typeface) and color settings of a field.

Note
Attributes, colors and print modes require corresponding hardware features, and will be ignored at runtime if these features are not available. See also the session parameters `AD`, `CD` and `PM` described in the Parameter Reference documentation.

Each class, attribute and color setting is denoted by a one- or two-letter code. For example, the letter code `A` identifies an input field, the letter `I` identifies intensified. Class, attribute and color can be combined in a delimiter character. A delimiter character, for example, specifies a field as an input field (letter code `A`) and intensified (letter code `I`). In the example screen above, the delimiter character for this combination (letter codes `A` and `I`) is the right parenthesis ( ) ).

A delimiter character is a non-alphabetical character that is prefixed to the field in the map editing area. (See also Defining Map Fields for examples of delimiter usage.) To display or modify the class, attribute and color settings assigned to a field by a delimiter character, use the extended field editing function described in the relevant section. Any non-alphabetical character can be defined as a delimiter character - except the control character for terminal commands, the control character for map commands and the decimal notation character.

Letter codes and delimiter characters can be entered in the columns Cls (Class), Att (Attribute), CD (Color Definition) and Del (Delimiter) or in the editing section provided by the extended field editing function.

To change the default delimiter settings for the current map

- In the Delimiters section, in the columns Cls, Att, CD and/or Del, overwrite a value with the value required, or, in a blank column, enter a value.

To change the default delimiter settings for the current session

- Before you initialize a map, on the Edit Map screen, in the Profiles field, replace the default map profile `SYSPROF` by the name of the profile you created earlier with the function Maintenance of Profiles & Devices (see Functions in the Edit Map Menu).

  The profile `SYSPROF` can only be modified by the Natural system administrator.

The table below lists and explains all valid letter codes for class, attribute and color that can be entered in the columns Cls (Class), Att (Attribute) and CD (Color Definition) or in the extended field editing section.

Valid letter codes for classes, attributes and colors are:

Class (Cls) | Attribute (Att) | Color (CD)
--- | --- | ---
A | Input field
M | Modifiable field
O | Output field (non-modifiable)
T | Text field
B | Blinking
C | Cursive/italic
D | Default (for example, non-intensified, non-blinking)
I | Intensified
N | Non-display
U | Underlined
V | Reversed video
Y | Dynamic (attributes to be assigned dynamically by a program)
BL | Blue
GR | Green
NE | Neutral
PI | Pink
RE | Red
TU | Turquoise
YE | Yellow

## Format

The following map format settings can be used:

Field | Explanation
--- | ---
Page Size | The number of map lines to be edited (1 - 250); if Standard Keys (see below) is set to `Y`, the number of lines is restricted to 3 - 250. For a map which is output with a `WRITE` statement, you specify the number of lines of the logical page output with the `WRITE` statement, not the map size. Thus, the map can be output several times on one page.
Line Size | The number of map columns to be edited (5 - 249).
Column Shift | Column shift (0 or 1) to be applied to the map. This feature can be used to address all 80 columns on an 80-column screen (Column Shift = 1, Line Size = 80). Positional commands (PF10, PF11) must be used to edit all map positions. The largest field you can display on a 24 x 80 screen must not exceed 79 characters. If you want to display a field with 80 characters or more, you have to adjust the Line Size accordingly. For example, to display a field with the format/length A80, set Line Size = 81.
Layout | The name of a map source definition which contains a predefined layout.
dynamic |
`Y` | Specifies the layout to be dynamic. The dynamically used layout does not become a fixed part of the map at compilation time, but is executed at runtime. Thus, subsequent modifications of a layout map become effective for all maps using that layout map. If the layout map includes user-defined variables, you have to define these parameters in the map using the layout map. Input fields and modifiable fields in the layout map are not open at runtime. Parameters can be added by pressing PF9 within the Field and Variable Definitions function.
`N` | Specifies the layout to be static. The static layout is copied into the source area when a map is initialized. Filler characters are not transferred. `N` is the default setting.
Zero Print |
`Y` | Displays a field value of all zeros as one zero only.
`N` | Displays a zero value as blanks. `N` is the default setting.
This value is copied into the field definition when a new field is created and can be modified for individual fields using the extended field editing function (see the relevant section).
Case Default |
`UC` | Indicates that all input entered for fields at map execution time is to be converted to upper case, that is, the session parameter `AD=T` is used as a field default. See also AD - Attribute Definition in the Parameter Reference documentation.
`LC` | Indicates that no lower to upper case conversion is to be performed, that is, the session parameter `AD=W` is used as a field default. To make the value `LC` effective, you have to specify the value `ON` for the Natural profile parameter `LC`. See also AD - Attribute Definition and LC - Lower to Upper Case Translation in the Parameter Reference documentation.
This value is copied into the field definition when a new field is created and can be modified for individual fields using the extended field editing function (see the relevant section).
Manual Skip |
`Y` | Does not automatically move the cursor to the next field in the map at execution time even if the current field is completely filled.
`N` | Moves the cursor automatically to the next field in the map at execution time when the current field is completely filled. `N` is the default setting.
Decimal Char | The character to be used as the decimal notation character. This character can only be changed with the `GLOBALS` command.
Standard Keys |
`Y` | Leaves the last two lines of the map blank so that function-key specifications can be entered at execution time.
`N` | Causes all lines to be used for the map. `N` is the default setting.
Justification |
The type of field justification to be used for numeric and alphanumeric fields taken from the data definitions in another Natural object:
`L` | Left justified
`R` | Right justified
This value is copied into the field definition when a new field is created.
Print Mode |
The default print mode for variables:
`C` | Indicates that an alternative character set is to be used (special character table as defined by the Natural administrator).
`D` | Indicates that double-byte character mode is to be used.
`I` | Indicates inverse print direction.
`N` | Indicates that no hardcopy can be made.
This value is copied into the field definition when a new field is created.
Control Var | The name of an attribute control variable, the content of which determines the attribute characteristics of fields and texts that have the attribute definition `AD=Y` or `Y`. The attribute control variable referenced in the map must be defined in the program using that map. Removing an attribute control variable from the format map settings implies that the attribute control variable is removed from the map, too, unless it is associated with any other map field.

## Context

The following map context settings can be used:

Field | Explanation
--- | ---
Device Check | If a device name is entered in this field, the map settings are checked for compatibility with the device profile of the specified device. If a setting is not compatible, a warning message is issued (see also Maintenance of Profiles & Devices in the section Functions in the Edit Map Menu).
WRITE Statement | Marking this field with a non-blank value produces a `WRITE` statement at the end of the map definition process. The resulting map can then be invoked from a Natural program using a `WRITE USING MAP` statement. Blank lines at the end of the map are automatically deleted so that the map can be output several times on one page.
INPUT Statement | Marking this field with a non-blank value causes the result of the map definition process to be an `INPUT` statement. The resulting map can then be invoked from a Natural program using an `INPUT USING MAP` statement.
Help | The name of a helproutine or help map which is invoked at execution time when the help function is invoked for this map (global help for map). The syntax that applies to entering values in the Help field corresponds to the syntax of the `HE` session parameter described in HE Parameter Syntax (Parameter Reference documentation).
as field default |
`Y` | Specifies that the helproutine or help map entered in the Help field is to apply as default to each individual field on the map, which means that the name of each field is passed individually to the helproutine.
`N` | Specifies that the name of the map is passed to the helproutine or help map. `N` is the default setting.
Note If you define the map settings for a help map, on the Define Map Settings for HELPMAP screen, the Help and as field default fields are replaced by the Position Line Col field described below.
Position Line Col | The position where the help map is to appear on the screen at execution time. This field only appears if you define the map settings for a help map created with the Initialize a new Help Map function. This field replaces the Help and as field default fields on the Define Map Settings for HELPMAP screen.
Automatic Rule Rank | The rank (priority) assigned to Predict automatic rules when they are linked to the map during field definition. Default is `1`.
Profile Name | The name of the profile which was active at map initialization time. If `ENFORCED` is displayed, the following map settings are protected: All map delimiters Static and dynamic layout Device check `WRITE` and `INPUT` statements All filler characters Automatic rule rank Positioning of help maps The name of the profile active at the time the map is created is stored within the map. When the map is edited later and another profile is active, a warning is produced but editing is allowed.

## Filler Characters

Filler characters can be assigned to indicate whether information for a field is mandatory and whether the field must be completely filled:

Field Type | Explanation
--- | ---
Optional, Partial | Input not mandatory, field need not be completely filled.
Required, Partial | Input mandatory, field need not be completely filled (`AD=E`).
Optional, Complete | Input not mandatory; if filled, field must be completely filled (`AD=G`).
Required, Complete | Input mandatory, field must be completely filled (`AD=EG`).

Filler characters can also be defined for individual fields using the extended field editing function (see the relevant section). For definition of field types, see also the session parameter `AD` described in the Parameter Reference documentation.

### On this page

- Delimiters
- Format
- Context
- Filler Characters