Selecting Data Items for Processing Option Data Structures

Data items for processing option data structures are used to determine the data to be presented.

To select data items for processing option data structures:

1. Click the Design Tools tab, and then click Start the Processing Option Design Aid.

2. Right-click the processing option tab, <New Tab>, and select Current Tab Properties.

3. In the Sort Name and Long Name fields, enter a name for the processing option tab according to the recommended naming conventions. Click OK.

4. Optionally, click the letter A on the toolbar and click the processing option template.

   This option drops a Comment Text field on the processing option template. Double-click the field and highlight the text. Enter comments to explain the options.

5. On the Data Dictionary Browser form, use the QBE line to locate the data items that you want to include on the processing option template.

   All of the data items included on a single tab should be related and the tab name should be descriptive. To add additional unrelated data items, you should create new tabs.

6. To include data items in the processing option, drag them from the Data Dictionary Browser form to the processing option template.

7. Optionally, double-click the data item description and enter descriptive text.

   This is necessary when you select a generic data item such as Everest Event Point 01 (EV01). This data item is used often when a single character value is expected, such as 1 or 2. You can change the text to read: Enter 1 to print a single column of labels, enter 2 to print two columns of labels.

   When you change the name of a data item on a processing option template, you should change the member name as well. Right-click the entry field of the data item. Select Properties. Using Hungarian Notation rules, change the member name. Leave the prefix that indicates the field type and modify the name to associate it with the description on the processing option template. Append an underline and the alias of the data item used for the field. For example, cLabels_EV01. Do not use spaces or special characters in the member name.

8. To remove data items from the processing option, select the data item on the processing option template and click Cut Item on the toolbar.

9. Optionally, right-click the processing option tab and select New Tab.

   In the Sort Name and Long Name fields, enter a name for the processing option tab according to the recommended naming conventions. Add related data items to this tab using the previous instructions.

10. When all of the tabs and data items required have been added to the processing option template, select Test from the Edit menu.

    This option enables you to view the processing option template as it will appear to the user. If any of the data items are defined to include a visual assist, you will be able to access it from this test template.

11. Save the processing option data structure.

    The processing option is now ready to be attached to an interactive or batch application. In the application, you must create event rules that define to the system how each processing option value should be processed.