Initialization file descriptors

The rules governing the order in which descriptors are defined in an initialization file are the following:

application descriptors

Descriptors that apply to the application as a whole must be defined first. There can be only one set of application descriptors in an initialization file. In that set, each application descriptor should be defined once. If defined more than once, then the last instance of the descriptor in the set is used. Application descriptors fall into four functional groups:

introductory frame descriptors
banner line descriptors
general application descriptors
color descriptors

application SLK descriptors

Descriptors that apply to application SLKs (the name that appears on the screen label as well as the function assigned to the function key) must be defined last in the initialization file. There can be multiple sets of application SLK descriptors--as many sets as there are SLKs you are defining. In each set, however, a descriptor should be defined only once.

Application descriptors for the initialization file

The following tables summarize the four functional groups of application descriptors.

``Introductory frame descriptors for the initialization file'' lists the descriptors that can be used to define an introductory frame in an initialization file.

Introductory frame descriptors for the initialization file

Descriptor Default if
not defined Type When
referenced Default frequency
of evaluation

columns 50 position At initialization time At initialization time

rows 10 position At initialization time At initialization time

text no default string At initialization time At initialization time

title no default string At initialization time At initialization time

``Banner line descriptors for the initialization file'' lists the descriptors that can be used to define the banner line in an initialization file.

Banner line descriptors for the initialization file

Descriptor Default if
not defined Type When
referenced Default frequency
of evaluation

bancol center position At initialization time At initialization time

banner no default string At initialization time At initialization time

working Working string At initialization time At initialization time

``General descriptors for the initialization file'' lists the descriptors that can be used to define features of the application as a whole.

General descriptors for the initialization file

Descriptor Default if
not defined Type When
referenced Default frequency
of evaluation

interrupt FALSE Boolean When an interruptible descriptor is evaluated When an interruptible descriptor is evaluated

nobang FALSE Boolean At initialization time At initialization time

oninterrupt `message Operation Interrupted!`nop command After descriptor evaluation is interrupted After descriptor evaluation is interrupted

permanentmsg no default string At initialization time At initialization time

slk_layout 3-2-3 layout At initialization time At initialization time

toggle 3 integer At initialization time At initialization time

NOTE: Prior to FMLI Release 4.0, only the $ notation existed for variable evaluation, and that notation exhibited the behavior now defined for $!.

For previously written FMLI applications now being run under FMLI Release 4.0 or later, a Boolean descriptor, use_incorrect_pre4.0_behavior, can be set in the general descriptors section of an initialization file if needed. This will cause fmli to ignore the $! notation and interpret $ in the way defined for $!. The default-if-not-defined value for use_incorrect_pre4.0_behavior is FALSE.

This descriptor, and consequently the ability to make the $ notation behave like the $! notation, will be removed in the next release of FMLI.

``Color descriptors for the initialization file'' lists the descriptors that can be used to define the colors of various elements of the FMLI screen display in an initialization file.

Color descriptors for the initialization file

Descriptor Default if
not defined Type When
referenced Default frequency
of evaluation

active_border white color At initialization time At initialization time

active_title_bar black color At initialization time At initialization time

active_title_text white color At initialization time At initialization time

banner_text white color At initialization time At initialization time

highlight_bar black color At initialization time At initialization time

highlight_bar_text white color At initialization time At initialization time

inactive_border white color At initialization time At initialization time

inactive_title_text white color At initialization time At initialization time

inactive_title_bar black color At initialization time At initialization time

screen black color At initialization time At initialization time

slk_text white color At initialization time At initialization time

slk_bar black color At initialization time At initialization time

window_text white color At initialization time At initialization time