This document covers the following topics:
The main menu of Natural provides access to Natural development functions, environment settings, utilities and example libraries.
To invoke Natural's main menu
Start Natural according to the procedures at your site.
Depending on the default settings in your environment, either the
Natural main menu or the NEXT or MORE command prompt
appears.
If one of the above command prompts appears, enter the following:
MAINMENU
The main menu appears.
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User SAG - Main Menu - Library SYSTEM
Function
_ Development Functions
_ Development Environment Settings
_ Maintenance and Transfer Utilities
_ Debugging and Monitoring Utilities
_ Example Libraries
_ Other Products
_ Help
_ Exit Natural Session
Command ===>
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Exit Canc |
All Natural objects required for creating an application are stored in
Natural libraries in Natural system files. There is a system file for system
programs (FNAT) and a system file for user-written programs
(FUSER).
Natural thus distinguishes system libraries and user libraries. The system libraries, which start with the letters "SYS", are reserved for Software AG purposes only. A user library contains all user-defined objects (for example, programs and maps) which make up an application. The name of a user library must not start with the letters "SYS".
The field Library in the top right-hand corner of the Natural main menu (and of many other screens) shows the name of the library where you are currently logged on.
The input of a Natural command is not case-sensitive. After you have entered a Natural command, you choose the ENTER key. ENTER confirms the action and executes the command or invokes an extra confirmation window where you explicitly acknowledge command execution.
You will now create a user library with the name TUTORIAL.
This library is to contain all Natural objects that you will create in the
course of this tutorial.
To create a user library
In the command line (indicated by Command ===> in the Natural main menu), enter the following:
LOGON TUTORIAL
where "TUTORIAL" is the name of the library that you create.
LOGON is a system command which is used
for two purposes:
to log on to an existing library, or
to create a new library when a library with the specified name does not exist.
Or:
In the upper right-hand corner of the screen, overwrite the name of
the current library with the name of the library to which you want to log on
and press ENTER.
Example:
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User SAG - Main Menu - Library TUTORIAL
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The Development Functions menu can be used to create and modify Natural objects.
To invoke the Development Functions menu
On the Natural main menu, enter any character in the input field next to Development Functions and press ENTER.
Or:
Use cursor selection, that is: place the cursor in the input field
next to Development Functions and press
ENTER.
The Development Functions menu appears.
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User SAG - Development Functions - Library TUTORIAL
Mode Structured
Work area empty
Code Function Code Function
C Create Object L List Objects or Single Source
E Edit Object O List Source with Expanded Sources
X Execute Program N List Extended Object Names
R Rename Object I List Directory Information
D Delete Objects U List Used Subroutines, etc.
S Scan Objects ? Help
. Exit
Code .. _ Type .. _ Name .. ________________________________
Command ===>
Enter-PF1---PF2---PF3---PF4---PF5---PF6---PF7---PF8---PF9---PF10--PF11--PF12---
Help Menu Exit Canc |
The programming mode is indicated in the Mode field at the top right-hand corner of the Development Functions menu.
Natural provides two different programming modes:
Structured Mode
Structured mode is intended for the implementation of complex
applications with a clear and well-defined program structure. It is recommended
to use structured mode exclusively.
Reporting Mode
Reporting mode is only useful for the creation of ad hoc reports and
small programs which do not involve complex data and/or programming
constructs.
Important:
This tutorial requires that structured mode is active. If you
try to run your program in reporting mode, END-IF,
END-READ and END-REPEAT will cause
errors.
If reporting mode is currently active, proceed as described below.
To switch from reporting mode to structured mode
Enter the following system command in the command line and press ENTER:
GLOBALS SM=ON
Or:
In the upper right-hand corner of the Development
Functions menu, overwrite the first position of the
Mode field (which shows
"Reporting") with the following letter and press
ENTER:
S
Example:
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User SAG - Development Functions - Library TUTORIAL
Mode Seporting
Work area empty
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You can now proceed with your first program: Hello World!