Wizards

The Object Handler provides wizards that determine the processing sequence for the following:

  • Unloading data from the Natural system environment into Natural work files.

  • Loading data from work files into the Natural system environment.

  • Scanning the contents of Natural work files.

Start of instruction set To activate the wizards

  • In the Main Menu, select the Advanced user field if required (the field is not selected by default).

The wizards provide the keys PF8 and PF7 to navigate between the screens (steps). Use PF12 to cancel the processing sequence.

The steps described in this section show the processing sequence performed with the unload, load or scan wizard.


Step 1 - Start the Procedure

Start of instruction set To start the unload, load or scan procedure

  1. From the Main Menu, choose Unload, Load or Scan by entering any single character next to the function required or by using the corresponding PF key.

    The initial Wizard screen appears with the following options:

    • Unload/Load/Scan objects into/from Natural work file(s).

    • Start Object Handler command procedure.

  2. If you want to unload objects into a work file, load object from a work file or scan objects in a work file, proceed with Step 2 - Unload/Load/Scan Objects into/from Work Files below.

    Or:
    If you want to use a command procedure for unloading, loading or scanning objects, choose Start Object Handler command procedure and proceed as follows:

    1. On the initial Wizard screen, choose Start Object Handler command procedure. The Procedure screen appears.

    2. In the Name field, enter the name of a Workplan of the type PROCEDURE by using either of the following options:

      • Type in the name of a Workplan of the type PROCEDURE (see also Workplans) that should be used for the transaction.

      • Choose Select Workplan or choose PF5 to display a list of available Workplans of the type PROCEDURE. In the line next to the Workplan you want to select, enter the command S or SE. Choose ENTER to execute the command and fill the Name field on the Procedure screen.

    3. Select List Workplan or choose PF4 if you want to display the Workplan specified.

      See also List the Available Workplans in the Workplan Library in the section Administration.

  3. Choose ENTER to continue.

  4. Proceed with Step 5 - Execute Processing.

Step 2 - Unload/Load/Scan Objects into/from Work Files

Start of instruction set To unload, load or scan objects into/from Natural work files

  1. On the initial Wizard screen, choose Unload/Load/Scan objects into/from Natural work file(s).

  2. Choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to continue. The Options screen of the wizard appears with the following fields, commands and alternative PF keys:

    Field PF Key Explanation
    Transfer format   Only valid if Use default options (this is the default) has been selected.

    If selected, the data to be processed is written in Transfer format to/from the work file. See also Work File Format in Work Files.

    Unload function:
    The data to be unloaded is written in Transfer format to the work file. Note that if you want to change the setting of this field for a subsequent unload, you need to return to the Main Menu or enter the command GO UNLOAD END (see Commands for Navigation and Special Functions in Direct Commands) and restart the unload function.

    Load and scan functions:

    The data to be loaded or scanned is expected to be in Transfer format.

    Unicode work file   Only applies to the unload function and if Transfer format has been selected.

    If this option is selected, all object sources are converted to Unicode/UTF-8 (Universal Transformation Format, 8-bit form) before they are written to the work file.

    Use PC File   Only applies if Entire Connection is installed.

    If selected, the data to be processed is read from or written to an Entire Connection work file.

    Portable work file   Not required for the load and scan functions, which automatically choose the appropriate work file type and ignore this option if set.

    Portable work file is only valid if the following applies:

    • Use default options (this is the default) has been selected.

    • Transfer format has not been selected.

    If Portable work file has been selected, the work file is written or read in portable format. See also Work File Format in Work Files.
    Work file   Only valid if Use default options (this is the default) is selected.
    • The name of the work file to be used for the function. If the name exceeds the space available, choose PF11 (WorkF) and enter a longer name of up to 253 characters. Alternatively, position the cursor at this field and choose PF1 (Help).

      See Work Files.

    • Or, if Use PC File has been selected, the name of the path and the Entire Connection work file to be used.

    See Work Files.

    Use default options   Default options are used (this is the default). For the options available, see Profile Settings and Set Additional Options in Settings.
    Set additional options PF4 Only valid if Use default options has been selected.

    Invokes the Options screen of the wizard where you can modify the default settings and enter additional options for the processing sequence. See Set Additional Options in Settings.

    Use Option Workplan     If selected, a Workplan of the type OPTION is used (see Workplans).
    Name     Only valid if Use Option Workplan has been selected.

    The name of a Workplan of the type OPTION to be used.

    List Option Workplan PF6 Only valid if Use Option Workplan has been selected.

    Displays the contents of the Workplan specified in the field Name.

    Select Option Workplan PF5 Only valid if Use Option Workplan has been selected.

    Displays a selection list of available Workplans of the type OPTION (see also List the Available Workplans in the Workplan Library in Administration).

  3. Select any of the options provided and (if necessary) complete the fields to be used for the processing sequence.

  4. Choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to continue.

    The Parameters screen of the wizard appears.

Step 3 - Set Parameters

Start of instruction set To set parameters for the processing procedure

  1. On the Parameters screen, select any of the following options and (if necessary) complete the fields to be used for the processing sequence:

    Field PF Key Explanation
    Do not use parameters   If selected (default setting), no parameters are set.
    Use global parameters   If selected, global parameters are used. See Set Global Parameters in Settings.
    Set global parameters PF4 Only valid if Use global parameters has been selected.

    If selected, the Parameters screen is invoked. See Set Global Parameters (Settings) and parameter-setting (Direct Commands) for descriptions of keywords and valid input values.

    Use Parameter Workplan   If selected, a Workplan of the type PARAMETER is used (see Workplans).
    Name   Only valid if Use Parameter Workplan has been selected.

    The name of a Workplan of the type PARAMETER to be used.

    List Parameter Workplan PF6 Only valid if Use Parameter Workplan has been selected.

    If selected, the contents of the Workplan specified in the field Name are displayed.

    Select Parameter Workplan PF5 Only valid if the field Use Parameter Workplan has been selected.

    If selected, a selection list of available Workplans of the type PARAMETER is displayed (see List the Available Workplans in the Workplan Library in Administration).

  2. Choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to continue.

    The Select Unload/Load/Scan Type screen appears.

Step 4 - Select Objects

Start of instruction set To select the type of object you want to process

  1. On the Select Unload/Load/Scan Type screen, choose one of the three options described below. Note that the first option only applies to the load and scan functions. For the keywords and valid values that apply to each object type, see the relevant explanations in the section Object Specification.

    1. Select Load/Scan all objects to process all objects from the work file.

    2. Select a particular type of object:

      Choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to continue.

      Depending on the type of object selected, a screen appears where you can specify selection criteria for the objects to be processed.

      Enter selection criteria and choose Details (if available) for further object specifications, if required. For information on Details, see the relevant explanation in the section Object Specification.

    3. Select Use Selection or List Workplan to use a Workplan of the type SELECTION or LIST. See also Workplans.

      Choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to continue.

      The Selection or List screen appears. In the Name field, enter the name of a Workplan of the type SELECTION or LIST by using either of the following options:

      • Type in the name of a Workplan.

        Or:

        Choose Select Workplan or PF5 (SelWP) to display a list of all Workplans available. In the line next to the Workplan you want to select, enter either the command S or SE.

        Choose ENTER to execute the command and fill the Name field on the Selection or List screen. See also List the Available Workplans in the Workplan Library in the section Administration.

      Choose List Workplan or PF4 (Li-WP) if you want to display the contents of the Workplan entered in the Name field.

  2. Choose ENTER or PF8 (Next) to continue.

    The wizard displays the processing command generated from the input data.

    You can save the command displayed as a Workplan of the type PROCEDURE (see also Workplans), by entering the command SAVE or by choosing PF5 (Save).

Step 5 - Execute Processing

Start of instruction set To execute the processing procedure

  1. On the command execution screen, choose ENTER or choose PF8 (Next) to confirm the settings and to process the objects specified.

    If required, choose PF7 (Back) and modify the processing settings before you confirm command execution.

    The Object Handler performs the function and displays a confirmation message.

  2. Choose ENTER to continue.

    A report screen appears with a list of the objects processed.

  3. Choose PF3 (Exit) to leave the report screen or choose PF12 (Canc) to terminate the function.

    A window appears where you can choose whether to continue processing data.

  4. Choose No and then ENTER to terminate the function.

    Or:
    Choose PF12 to terminate the function.

    The Main Menu appears.

Step 6 - Continue Processing

Start of instruction set To continue processing

  1. On the report screen, choose PF3 (Exit).

    A window appears where you choose whether to proceed with the next processing step.

  2. Choose Yes.

    A screen appears with the option to reuse or change previous settings.