Re: Clearing character screen fields

In article <8828@emory.mathcs.emory.edu>, dave.snyder@snide.com (Dave Snyder) writes: |> Quoting John Bossert... |> -> |> -> Is there a way to clear *character* screen fields upon input? |> -> |> -> I have a field containing [XX]. I type "S" and see [SX]. I want |> -> to see [S ]. Is there a built-in to do this (attribute?) in the form |> -> or is there some 4GL construct I could use? |> |> In the field containing [XX] type: |> "S<CTRL-D>" |> Here's where I roll up my sleeves and put on my gloves. If there's one thing I don't like about Informix it's the extremely simple-minded approach to screen field control and no easy hooks to include my own. When working with the C-ISAM product I had to write my own screen handler as did others. There are now lots of very good screen interfaces available for Informix, JAM JYACC being one (which is extremely long on complexity promising simplicity) and many more coming up. The technology in user interfaces is way beyond text in a 80x25 screen. Informix seems to be concentrating on engine design and leaving screen interfaces to third parties (except of course in their newer products - more on that later). No problem. That can work out quite well for those enjoying to do battle with more than one vendor on every problem. By the way, another obvious solution to this problem is: "<CTRL-D>S..." Now if I had my druthers I would toss the Informix screen interface altogether and use something that allows me, the programmer, to write in controls that the user can really enjoy. A mouse interface for point- and-shoot would be one. Who enjoys having to enter many CTRL-J/CTRL-L (or arrow keys - if they really work right) combinations to get to the desired field? All our terminals are either Suns or SGI and they all have large screens and X/Motif and mouse input and full color. When the users look at a text-based monochrome application they wonder why the programmer didn't do better. Even this editor I'm using has a mouse input for full screen editing control with adjustable sized window via X. I'm also screaming for horizontally scrollable text fields and more modern field editing functions. Buy WingZ or On-line I`m told. Look, if we wanted to spend lots of extra bucks on newer products we would most likely buy Oracle. We don't need a fancy, super-fast engine for this application, but we do need a fancy, super-user-friendly interface. What I would also like to see are pop-ups that are truely independent windows that I can position anywhere on my screen, even outside the window it was created in. I can do it of course if I write my own screen handler again. Please, Informix, get modern. No more, ~We'll do it in another product." How about writing your own third party X/Motif screen handler *add-on* for existing products? Or has the 1980's entreprenural fortitude been replaced with the 1880's accountant attitude? Thanks ever so much. ------------------------------------------------------------------------------ John R. Carter, Sr. Programmer/Analyst - Informix DBA Computer Sciences Corporation jcarter@nas.nasa.gov Numerical Aerodynamic Simulation 415/604-3662 NASA Ames Research Center, Moffett Field, CA 94035-1000 M/S 258-6 ------------------------------------------------------------------------------