Nxtfld
The NxtFld internal function works the same way as Curfld except that it takes into account the way the field was exited and reports the number of the field that the cursor is going to enter next.
If a control that is part of an active Input Fields operation is double clicked, then NXTFLD will identify the relative position of the control within the Fields operation. However, for hot field identification it is necessary to use Fkey values to identify the respective controls.
Interrogating the Next Control
It is desirable to know which control was clicked when a user clicks on a hot control (a control that has an Fkey assigned). Furthermore, if the control is a GRID or LIST then it can be useful to know where the user clicked within the control. Two methods are used to identify clicked controls: Fkey numbers and NXTFLD.
The NxtFld internal function has 4 possible combinations of syntax:
NXTFLD NXTFLD([<New_current_field>] [,<attribute$>] [,FKEY]) NXTFLD([<New_current_field>] [,<New_current_row>]) ! if the new current field is a ListView NXTFLD([<New_current_field>] [,<New_current_cell>])! if the new current field is a Grid
When used without parameters, the NxtFld function returns the number of the field containing the cursor from the last INPUT FIELDS, RINPUT FIELDS, INPUT SELECT, or RINPUT SELECT operation. With parameters, NxtFld can be used to record the field (same as the C control attribute) and/or an attribute for the last field.
Comments and Examples
00100 DIM SF$(3) 00110 LET SF$(1)="10,30,c 10,r" 00120 LET SF$(2)="12,30,c 10,r" 00130 LET SF$(3)="14,30,c 10,r" 00140 INPUT FIELDS MAT SF$: A$, B$, C$ 00150 PRINT "Cursor ended on FIELD"; NXTFLD 00160 PRINT "Cursor ended on ROW"; NXTROW 00170 PRINT "Cursor ended on COLUMN"; NXTCOL
In the sample program above, the there are three fields available for input. The operator can move the cursor in any direction, but only within these three fields. After the operator hits the <ENTER> key, line 150 will print the number 1, 2 or 3 depending on which field the operator left the cursor on. In addition, line 160 will print the row number (10, 12, or 14) containing the cursor when input was ended. Also, line 130 will print the column number (30 through 39).
NXTFLD provides valuable information when several fields are entered in one statement through an array, specifically, when INPUT FIELDS, RINPUT FIELDS, INPUT SELECT, or RINPUT SELECT is used with an Array.
As NXTFLD returns the subscript in the field definition array of the field containing the cursor from the last INPUT FIELDS, RINPUT FIELDS, INPUT SELECT, or RINPUT SELECT, NXTFLD can be especially useful with the on-line help facility. By using NXTFLD in the HELP$ function in line 990 for the value of the "mark", the operator can be directed to the most relevant portion of the text under the topic HOURS.ENTRY in the help file that explains the valid entries for that field. For example:
00810 INPUT FIELDS MAT FLD$: HRS,OT,DT,SICK HELP 90
00820 STOP
00990 HELP$("HOURS.ENTRY", NXTFLD) : RETRY
FKEY Parameter
NxtFld has been extended to allow an additional numeric parameter, an FKey value, that causes FIELDS and SELECT statements to execute the specified keystroke before requesting operator input. NXTFLD ignores FKEY values of 100 or less and of 114 or greater. The following code uses NXTFLD and FKEY to trap the operator's field exit keystroke and execute it after verifying the data just entered. NOTE that the AE control attributes are used to interrupt execution of the INPUT FIELDS statement upon field exit.
00010 PRINT NEWPAGE 00020 INPUT FIELDS "10,10,C 10,AEU:R;11,10,C10,U": X$,Y$ HELP 41 00030 IF CURFLD=1 THEN PRINT FIELDS "10,22,C": X$ 00040 IF FKEY>100 THEN LET NXTFLD(NXTFLD,FKEY) : GOTO 20 00041 PRINT FKEY 00050 STOP
As soon as the operator attempts to exit the first input field, line 30 verifies the entered data by redisplaying it to the right of the field. The CURFLD function in line 40 is then used to reenact the operator's field exit operation: the field just verified is set to the current field, and the operator's attempted exit keystroke (the value of FKEY) is executed. Operator input is then allowed for the next field.
NOTE: If the up arrow was the last key used, the cursor will return to the previous field. If the tab key was used, the cursor will position to the next field with a T (tab stop) attribute.
NOTE that the NXTFLD function in line 40 is executed only if the value of FKEY is greater than 100. Values of 100 or less are ignored, as are interpreted as an attempt to enter the entire screen.
NXTFLD processes field control attributes such as AEP and #. These control attributes are ADDED to the control attributes that are specified for a field. Also, the attributes that are specified with NXTFLD will OVERRIDE (be used instead of) a floating attribute specified with ATTR. The NXTFLD attributes will remain in effect only during the next execution of an INPUT FIELDS or INPUT SELECT statement. Line 20 in the following example uses the X control attribute (see the "X control attribute" discussion in the BRConfig.sys Specifications section for more information).
00010 INPUT FIELDS "10,10,V 10,U;11,10,V 10,U;12,10,V 10,U",attr "HU":X$,Y$,Z$ 00020 IF X$="" THEN LET NXTFLD(1,"RX") : GOTO 10 00030 !.. other editing 00040 IF FKEY>100 THEN LET NXTFLD(NXTFLD,FKEY) : GOTO 10 00050 !.. output
If the first field displayed by the above code is left blank, the NXTFLD function in line 20 will reposition the cursor to that field and display it in reverse video. The NXTFLD function's X attribute will additionally cause an auto-enter to occur when the operator attempts to re-exit the field. If the field passes the test on line 20, and the enter key or a function key was not pressed, the field attribute will resume as an underline and the cursor will be positioned at the next field the operator was trying to move to.
ADS expects that line 40 will become a standard line of code in all programs that use input fields and validate data.
Previously, the NxtFld statement supported 3 parameters:
- The relative field number.
- Optional additional field attributes.
- An optional FKEY value to be applied for cursor positioning before processing the INPUT.
In the event the first parameter points to a 2D field/control then instead of the FKEY value, the third (or second numeric) parameter is interpreted as the subscript of the item within the 2D control. For LISTs, this is a row value. For GRIDs this is a Cell Subscript Value. For TOOLBARs, it is the icon subscript value (relative position in toolbar).
Also, in the event the first parameter points to a 2D field/control then the NXTFLD function returns the subscript of the current item within the 2D control.
The NXTFLD system function has been extended to support the current selection upon entry to a multi-field control. The first parameter specifies which field/control is to be affected and the second parameter is the subscript of the cursor upon entry to that control. In the event the first parameter points to a 2D field/control then instead of the FKEY value, the third (or second numeric) parameter is interpreted as the subscript of the item within the 2D control.
- For LISTviews this is a row value.
- For GRIDs this is a Cell Subscript Value.
- For TOOLBARs it is the icon subscript value (relative position in toolbar).
Note that NXTFLD with 2 parameters does not set the initial position of the cursor until the respective control is entered. Also if the mouse is used to enter a control, that will override the specified NXTFLD value.
Option 43 Use old style Input Select with respect to setting CURFLD to the NXTFLD value when a selection is made.
Technical Considerations
CurFld is initialized to -1 at the start of a new program by the RUN command.
Related Functions
CURROW and CURCOL return the row and column numbers of the last INPUT FIELDS, RINPUT FIELDS, INPUT SELECT, or RINPUT SELECT statement.