Con-nect offers an interface (the procedure) which enables you to use an existing Natural program to replace variables in a document with actual data when the document is formatted in Con-nect.
The Natural program itself is not added to Con-nect, it is merely made known to Con-nect via a procedure definition.
The examples at the end of this document show how procedures can be added and used to create a document.
This document covers the following topics:
There are two types of procedures:
Pre-formatting Procedure
Supplies values to replace variables in a document during the
formatting process.
Post-formatting Procedure
Initiates activities after the document formatting has been completed
(can be used to update a database).
When you add a procedure in Con-nect, you link an existing Natural program to a procedure name which can later be identified by Con-nect. This process does not bring the Natural program into Con-nect.
Issue the following command sequence from any point in Con-nect:
ADD Procedure
As a result, the "Add Procedure" screen appears.
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Cabinet LS Add Procedure Friday
Folder Work___________ File _______________
Procedure Name ________________________________
Description ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Program ________ and Library SYSCNT2_
Private use _ or Security Read 7 Modify 7 Copy 7
Complete the information above and press ENTER to add
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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In addition to the information which you enter in every "Add" screen (see The "Add" Screens), you must specify the following procedure definition criteria in the "Add Procedure" screen.
- Procedure Name
A unique name which identifies the procedure within Con-nect. The name must not exceed 32 characters.
- Program
The Natural program which is to be executed whenever a document is formatted using the "Procedure Name" specified above.
The Natural program must have been previously defined (by the Con-nect administrator, yourself or another user).
- Library
The name of the Natural library in which the program is cataloged. The library defined as STEPLIB is specified by default. You can specify the current library by typing over the default. (Only the library defined as STEPLIB or the current library may be specified.)
Press ENTER to add the procedure.
The blank "Add Procedure" screen re-appears and you can add another procedure.
You can link procedures to documents which contain variables.
The first step is to add a procedure as discussed in section Adding a Procedure.
The second step is to access the "Info" screen for the document and then link the procedure to the document. Issue the INFO command in conjunction with the document:
INFO Document name
The "Info" screen appears.
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Cabinet LS Info for sample-doc Friday
Folder Work File
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document Name sample-doc
Description A document with variables that are to be replaced with data_
from the database - using a procedure_______________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Keywords _______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
Add Procedures _ Attached/Cover Notes Enclosures
Private use _ Security Read 7 Modify 7 Copy 7 Print 7
Expiration Date 4.Feb.95___ Archive on Expiration X
Created 4.Feb.94 11:40 AM by Long,Sonya LS
Modified 4.Feb.94 11:40 AM by Long,Sonya LS
Mailed by
Forwarded by
Make all required changes and press ENTER to modify
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Mark the "Add Procedures" field with any character and press ENTER to display the "Add Procedures for Document" window.
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Folder Work File
---------------------------------- +---------------------------------------+
Document Name sample-doc ! Add Procedures for Document !
Description A document with var +---------------------------------------+
from the database - ! Formatting Profile !
___________________ ! ________________________________ !
___________________ ! Pre-Format Procedures !
Keywords _______________ __ ! ________________________________ !
_______________ __ ! ________________________________ !
Add Procedures x Attach ! ________________________________ !
Private use _ Security Rea ! ________________________________ !
! Post-Format Procedures !
Expiration Date 4.Feb.95___ Arch ! ________________________________ !
Created 4.Feb.94 11:4 ! ________________________________ !
Modified 4.Feb.94 11:4 ! ________________________________ !
Mailed ! ________________________________ !
Forwarded +---------------------------------------+
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Enter the names of the pre-format and/or post-format procedures (a maximum of four each) in the appropriate lines.
You can also specify a formatting profile for the document. The formatting profile you specify in the above window will only be used when the following applies in the "Format Document-name" screen or in the "Specify Document Format Options" screen (see the description of the FORMAT command in section Documents):
the "Profile Name" line does not contain the name of a formatting profile; and
the "Formatting Profile" field is marked.
Press ENTER to close the window and to link the procedures to the document.
To format a document using the associated procedures, issue the FORMAT command in conjunction with the document:
FORMAT Document name
The "Format Document-name" screen is displayed. You can then format the document and display, print, file or modify it (see the description of the FORMAT command in section Documents).
The variables in the document are replaced with actual values as specified by the procedure.
You can also, for example, specify post-formatting procedures to update a database.
Issue the following command sequence from any point in Con-nect to display a list of all available procedures which have been made know to Con-nect:
DISPLAY Procedure
As a result, the "Display Procedures by Name" screen appears.
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Cabinet LS Display Procedures by Name Friday
Cmd Procedure Name Program Library Folder Date Filed
--- ------------------------------ -------- -------- ------------- -----------
__ Sample-3 SMPL3 SYSCNT2 Work 4.Feb.94
__ Sample-6 SMPL6 SYSCNT2 Work 4.Feb.94
__ Personnel PERSON SYSCNT2 (S) 3.Feb.94
__ Vacation-list VACLIST SYSCNT2 (S) 1.Feb.94
Cmds are 1 or 2 characters from the list below (FLIP for PF-keys)
Command / /
Display Erase File Modify Send Top
|
The procedures are arranged alphabetically. Your own procedures are displayed first, followed by those created by the Con-nect administrator.
The columns display the following information:
- Procedure Name
The name of the procedure.
- Program
The name of the Natural program to which the Con-nect procedure name refers.
- Library
The name of the Natural library in which the program is cataloged.
- Folder
The name of the folder in which the procedure is stored. Procedures which have been created by the Con-nect administrator are marked with (S); you can use these procedures, but cannot erase, file or modify them.
- Date Filed
The date when the procedure was first filed in the cabinet.
The command prompting line of the "Display Procedures by Name" screen shows all the commands which apply to procedures. The commands are described in section Commands. The following exceptions apply when working with procedures:
The DISPLAY command displays the procedure definition criteria specified when the procedure was added. (The actual program which comprises the procedure is stored in a Natural library, and the only way to display it is via the appropriate Natural commands and statements.)
The MODIFY command allows you to modify the procedure definition criteria (which identifies the Natural program to Con-nect), but does not allow you to modify the Natural program itself. You can, however, specify that another Natural program be used for the procedure.
When you SEND a procedure, the "Send" screen appears; you enter addressee(s), attach a cover note (mandatory) to the procedure, and send it with the CONFIRM command, just as with any other mail item.
When the addressee displays the new mail item in the Inbasket, the cover note is shown first. A message at the bottom of the Inbasket screen says that the mail item is a procedure. To display the procedure definition criteria, the addressee must issue the QUIT command.
To use the procedure, the addressee must first FILE it and then link it to a document as discussed in section Linking Procedures to a Document.
If you want to send the actual Natural program which comprises the procedure to another user, you must use the IMPORT command to bring the program into Con-nect (see Importing to Con-nect) and then SEND it. However, this is not necessary since every user can access a Natural program.
Below are examples for the different types of procedures:
This example is a pre-formatting procedure used to create a document that is to be sent to a specific employee, who has not yet submitted a vacation request for the current year. It uses the COMPOSE statement to replace variables in that document with information from the database when you FORMAT the document.
According to your specifications in the "Format Document-name" screen, a formatted version of the document will be displayed or printed; or a formatted copy of the document will be filed in a folder that you specify. You can also specify that a formatted copy of the document will be placed in the "Modify Document-name" screen.
A Natural program must first be created to extract the data from the database and to compute the leave which must be taken.
0010 **************************************************************** 0020 * Program Name : SMPL4 (Pre-formatting) 0030 * created by : Sonya Long 0040 * date : 17.Jan.94 0050 *************************************************************** 0060 DEFINE DATA LOCAL 0070 01 #NAME (A20) 0080 01 VAC-VIEW VIEW OF EMPLOYEES 0090 02 NAME 0100 02 FIRST-NAME 0110 02 DEPT 0120 02 LEAVE-START (1:5) 0130 02 LEAVE-END (1:5) 0140 02 LEAVE-DUE 0150 01 #DATE 0160 01 #I (N1) 0170 01 #N (N1) 0180 END-DEFINE 0190 * 0200 MOVE *DATE TO #DATE 0210 MOVE 'Hamson' to #NAME 0220 FIND VAC-VIEW WITH NAME EQ #NAME 0230 * 0240 FOR #I=2 TO 5 0250 IF LEAVE-START(#I)= 000000 THEN 0260 COMPUTE #N = #I - 1 0270 END-IF 0280 MOVE 5 TO #I 0290 END-FOR 0300 * 0310 IF LEAVE-START(#N)= 000000 THEN 0320 COMPOSE ASSIGNING 0330 'FNAME' = FIRST-NAME, 0340 'NAME' = NAME,0350 'DEPT' = DEPT, 0360 'LEAVEDUE' = LEAVE-DUE 0370 'DATE' = #DATE 0380 END-IF 0390 END-FIND 0400 END
A pre-formatting procedure must not reference a level 1 GDA, otherwise the document will not be formatted correctly.
Add a document which contains variables which are to be replaced with data from the database.
he variables must be the same as those assigned in the program. Like Con-form variables, they are characterized by a preceding & (this is only valid as long as you do not redefine the variable character & with the Con-form instruction .OP VSG=character).
11:40 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Modify Vacation Friday
Folder Work File Page 1 Line 1
....+....10...+....20...+....30...+....40...+....50...+....60...+....70...+.
&fname &name &date
&dept
Dear &fname,
You have &leavedue remaining days of vacation this year. Due to a change in
company policy, all vacation must be taken before the end of the year.
Therefore, could you please notify the supervisor of your department
of your vacation plans for the remainder of the year.
In addition, the office will be closed Dec. 23 through Dec. 25,
therefore we have inserted those three days in your vacation plan.
Thank you for your cooperation.
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / / used 1 % Dir + Del ,
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit Set X Top Bot Y Flip CX-Y Home
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Add a procedure as described in section Adding a Procedure.
11:42 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Add Procedure Friday
Folder Work___________ File _______________
Procedure Name Sample-4________________________
Description Pre-formatting procedure____________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Program SMPL4___ and Library SYSCNT2_
Private use _ or Security Read 7 Modify 7 Copy 7
Complete the information above and press ENTER to add
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Access the "Info" screen for the document and mark the "Add Procedures" field.
11:45 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Info for Vacation Friday
Folder Work File
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Document Name Vacation
Description ____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Keywords _______________ _______________ _______________
_______________ _______________ _______________
Add Procedures x Attached/Cover Notes Enclosures
Private use _ Security Read 7 Modify 7 Copy 7 Print 7
Expiration Date 4.Feb.95___ Archive on Expiration X
Created 31.Jan.94 10:19 AM by Long,Sonya LS
Modified 4.Feb.94 11:45 AM by Long,Sonya LS
Mailed by
Forwarded by
Make all required changes and press ENTER to modify
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Press ENTER to access the "Add Procedures for Document" window.
11:45 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Info for Vacation Friday
Folder Work File
---------------------------------- +---------------------------------------+
Document Name Vacation ! Add Procedures for Document !
Description ___________________ +---------------------------------------+
___________________ ! Formatting Profile !
___________________ ! ________________________________ !
___________________ ! Pre-Format Procedures !
Keywords _______________ __ ! SAMPLE-4________________________ !
_______________ __ ! ________________________________ !
Add Procedures x Attach ! ________________________________ !
Private use _ Security Rea ! ________________________________ !
! Post-Format Procedures !
Expiration Date 4.Feb.95___ Arch ! ________________________________ !
Created 31.Jan.94 10:1 ! ________________________________ !
Modified 4.Feb.94 11:4 ! ________________________________ !
Mailed ! ________________________________ !
Forwarded +---------------------------------------+
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Enter the name of the procedure as a pre-format procedure and press ENTER.
FORMAT the document and mark the following fields: "Format and File" and "Pre-Format Procedures".
11:46 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Format Vacation Friday
Folder Work File
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark for Formatted Display _
Formatted Print _
Format and File x and Modify _
Starting at Page 1
Ending at Page 999
Formatting Profile _
Profile Name FPROFILE________________________
Mark to include
Pre-Format Procedures x
Post-Format Procedures _
System Variables _
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit Mod Send Flip Home
|
Press ENTER to file a formatted copy of the document.
When you display the formatted copy of the document, all variables have been replaced with data from the database:
11:47 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Display Vacation Friday
Folder Work File Page 1 Line 1
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
Walter Hamson 4.Feb.94
COMP02
Dear Walter,
You have 25 remaining days of vacation this year. Due to a change in
company policy, all vacation must be taken before the end of the year.
Therefore, could you please notify the supervisor of your department
of your vacation plans for the remainder of the year.
In addition, the office will be closed Dec. 23 through Dec. 25,
therefore we have inserted those three days in your vacation plan.
Press ENTER for next page, or type a command (FLIP for PF-keys)
Command / /
Column Copy Erase Export File Flip Format Info Modify
Output Page Position Print Quit Send Top Translat
|
This example is a post-formatting procedure which can be linked to the document used in the previous example and thus update the database after the document has been formatted.
A Natural program must first be created to: extract the data from the database, compute the vacation available, and update it to reflect the new leave available after the three days in December have been subtracted.
0010 **************************************************************** 0020 * Program Name : SMPL6 (Post-formatting) 0030 * created by : Sonya Long 0040 * date : 17.Jan.94 0050 *************************************************************** 0060 DEFINE DATA LOCAL 0070 01 VAC-VIEW VIEW OF EMPLOYEES 0080 02 NAME 0090 02 FIRST-NAME 0100 02 DEPT 0110 02 LEAVE-START (1:12) 0120 02 LEAVE-END (1:12) 0130 02 LEAVE-DUE 0140 01 #NAME (A20) 0150 END-DEFINE 0160 * 0170 COMPOSE EXTRACTING 0180 #NAME = 'NAME' 0190 FIND VAC-VIEW WITH NAME EQ #NAME 0200 ASSIGN LEAVE-START(1) = 2312940210 ASSIGN LEAVE-END(1) = 251294 0220 COMPUTE LEAVE-DUE = LEAVE-DUE - 3 0230 UPDATE 0240 END TRANSACTION 0250 END-FIND 0260 END
Add a procedure as described in section Adding a Procedure.
11:47 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Add Procedure Friday
Folder Work___________ File _______________
Procedure Name Sample-6________________________
Description Post-formatting procedure___________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________
Program SMPL6___ and Library SYSCNT2_
Private use _ or Security Read 7 Modify 7 Copy 7
Complete the information above and press ENTER to add
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit Mod Send Flip Home
|
Access the "Info" screen for the document, and mark the "Add Procedures" field .
Press ENTER to access the "Add Procedures for Document" window.
11:48 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Info for Vacation Friday
Folder Work File
---------------------------------- +---------------------------------------+
Document Name Vacation ! Add Procedures for Document !
Description ___________________ +---------------------------------------+
___________________ ! Formatting Profile !
___________________ ! ________________________________ !
___________________ ! Pre-Format Procedures !
Keywords _______________ __ ! SAMPLE-4________________________ !
_______________ __ ! ________________________________ !
Add Procedures x Attach ! ________________________________ !
Private use _ Security Rea ! ________________________________ !
! Post-Format Procedures !
Expiration Date 4.Feb.95___ Arch ! SAMPLE-6________________________ !
Created 31.Jan.94 10:1 ! ________________________________ !
Modified 4.Feb.94 11:4 ! ________________________________ !
Mailed ! ________________________________ !
Forwarded +---------------------------------------+
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit In Send Foldr Docs Note Cal Flip Last Home
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Enter the name of the procedure as a post-formatting procedure and press ENTER.
FORMAT the document and mark the following fields: "Pre-Format Procedures" and "Post-Format Procedures".
11:48 AM * * * C O N - N E C T 3 * * * 4.Feb.94
Cabinet LS Format Vacation Friday
Folder Work File
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Mark for Formatted Display X
Formatted Print _
Format and File _ and Modify _
Starting at Page 1
Ending at Page 999
Formatting Profile _
Profile Name FPROFILE________________________
Mark to include
Pre-Format Procedures x
Post-Format Procedures x
System Variables _
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Enter a command, press a PF-key, or enter * to display commands
Command / /
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Quit Mod Send Flip Home
|
Press ENTER to format the document, and to run the program (post-formatting procedure) to update the database.