Building applications
Application Design Manual 4.2.A
APPX 4.2.A
36 chapters, 803 topics
APPX 4.2.A edition. Extracted from the live APPX manual on October 9, 2026. Original version-specific text and screenshots are preserved.For the current releases, read the 6.2.0 edition (APPX 6.2) or the 5.5.1 edition (APPX 5.5). All 24 editions
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Chapter 1-1Overview of Application Design
- 0Cover Page
- 0Introduction to Application Design
- 0How to Reach Appx
- 0Terminology
- 0A Specification Approach
- 0Prototyping an Application
- 0Integrated Documentation
- 0Components of the Application Design Facility
- 0The Data Dictionary (Data Elements and Structures)
- 0Objects or Processes
- 0The Image Editor
- 0Integrated Language Facility (ILF)
- 0The ILF Editor
- 0The Debugging Facility
- 0Design Tools
- 0Language Facility
- 0Utilities
- 0Application Chooser
- 0Application Properties
- 0Named Resources
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Chapter 1-2Getting Started
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Chapter 1-3Data Dictionary
- 0The Data Dictionary: Cornerstone of an Application
- 0Characteristics of the APPX Data Dictionary
- 0Accessing the Data Dictionary
- 0The Components of the Data Dictionary
- 0Domains and Domain Types
- 0The Functions of a Domain
- 0The Advantages of Using Domains
- 0An Example of a Domain
- 0Fields and Field Types
- 0Work Fields
- 0Audit Trail
- 0Storage Options and Files
- 0Permanent Files
- 0Disk Files (Temporary)
- 0Memory Files
- 0Working-Storage Files
- 0File Organization
- 0One-Record File Organization
- 0Sequential File Organization
- 0Indexed File Organization
- 0File Keys
- 0Default Value Records
- 0Data Dictionary Processing
- 0When Processing is Required
- 0Restructuring Files
- 0Security in the Data Dictionary
- 0Record Protection Fields
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Chapter 1-4Understanding Process Design
- 0APPX Processes
- 0Processes Compared With Programs
- 0Process Concepts
- 0The Menu Process
- 0The Job Process
- 0The Input Process
- 0The Output Process
- 0The Update Process
- 0The Query Process
- 0The Inquiry Process
- 0The Status Process
- 0The Subroutine Process
- 0Relationships Between Processes
- 0Process Genealogy
- 0Process Components
- 0Preparing for Runtime
- 0The Sequence of Operation
- 0An Example of the Process Cycle
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Chapter 1-5Interprocess Communication
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Chapter 1-6Customizing Your Application
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Chapter 1-7The Documentation Facility
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Chapter 1-8Application Design Tools
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Chapter 2-1Data Dictionary Overview
- 0APPX Data Dictionary
- 0Accessing the Data Dictionary
- 0Characteristics of the Data Dictionary
- 0Components of the Data Dictionary
- 0Domain Concepts
- 0Domain Types
- 0Functions of a Domain
- 0Some Examples of Domains
- 0Mask Definition
- 0Display Mask Relationship (Data Dictionary vs. Image)
- 0External, Internal, and Universal Data Formats
- 0Fields
- 0Field Types
- 0Physical versus Logical Categories
- 0Physical Fields
- 0Work Fields
- 0Logical Fields
- 0Substring Fields
- 0Synonym Fields
- 0Group Fields
- 0Designating Keys
- 0Key Order versus Sort Order
- 0Files
- 0File Storage Options
- 0File Organization
- 0Temporary versus Permanent Files
- 0Record Protection
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Chapter 2-2Data Dictionary Concepts
- 0Processing the Data Dictionary
- 0Tracking Processing Requirements
- 0Summary of a Data Dictionary Process
- 0Relationships of the Processed Dictionary to Other APPX Components
- 0Application Integration Issues
- 0Integrity
- 0Database Security
- 0Documentation
- 0Accessing the Data Dictionary Documentation Screens
- 0Integration with Database Management and System Administration
- 0Database Management and the Data Dictionary
- 0System Administration and the Data Dictionary
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Chapter 2-3Domains
- 0Introduction to Domains
- 0Domains Screen
- 0Domains Toolbox Option
- 0Domains Data Lookup
- 0Domains Additional Attributes
- 0Common Domain Specifications
- 0Alpha Domains
- 0Alpha Domain Validation Table
- 0Alpha Domain Additional Attributes
- 0Format Domains
- 0Format Domain Validation Table
- 0Format Domain Additional Attributes
- 0System Domains
- 0System Domain Additional Attributes
- 0Text Domains
- 0Text Domain Additional Attributes
- 0Token Domains
- 0Token Domain Token Table
- 0Token Domain Additional Attributes
- 0Numeric Domains
- 0Numeric Domain Additional Attributes
- 0Numeric Storage Types
- 0Six Types of Characters Used in Numeric Masks
- 0Mask Characters Influenced by Values in System Administration
- 0Text in Numeric Masks
- 0Formats Excluded by Numeric Masking Facility
- 0Date Domains
- 0Logic Domains
- 0Same As Domains
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Chapter 2-4Files and Fields
- 0Introduction to Files and Fields
- 0Files
- 0Files Rules Option
- 0Files Additional Attributes Option
- 0Files Record Protection Option
- 0Files Default Process Option
- 0Fields
- 0Fields Data Lookup Option
- 0Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Fields Key Control Option
- 0Common Fields Specifications
- 0Occurrence
- 0Domain Fields
- 0Domain Fields Additional Attributes Option
- 0Domain Fields (System Domains)
- 0Domain Fields (Numeric Domains)
- 0Alpha Fields
- 0Alpha Fields Validation Table
- 0Alpha Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Format Fields
- 0Format Fields Validation Table
- 0Format Fields Additional Attributes
- 0System Fields
- 0Text Fields
- 0Text Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Token Fields
- 0Token Fields Token Table
- 0Token Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Numeric Fields
- 0Date Fields
- 0Logic Fields
- 0Logic Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Synonym Fields
- 0Special Uses for Synonym Fields
- 0Substring Fields
- 0Group Fields
- 0Group Header Fields
- 0Group Trailer Fields
- 0Special Uses for Group Fields
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Chapter 2-5Work Fields
- 0Introduction to Work Fields
- 0Work Fields Data Lookup Option
- 0Work Fields Additional Attributes Option
- 0Common Work Fields Specifications
- 0Domain Work Fields
- 0Domain Work Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Domain Work Fields (Numeric Domain)
- 0Domain Work Fields (Numeric Domain) Add'l Attributes
- 0Alpha Work Fields
- 0Alpha Work Fields Validation Table
- 0Alpha Work Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Format Work Fields
- 0Format Work Fields Validation Table
- 0Format Work Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Text Work Fields
- 0Text Work Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Token Work Fields
- 0Token Work Fields Token Table
- 0Token Work Fields Additional Attributes
- 0Numeric Work Fields
- 0Date Work Fields
- 0Logic Work Fields
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Chapter 3-1Overview of APPX Processes
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Chapter 3-2Getting Started
- 0Introduction to Process Concepts
- 0The Image Editor
- 0Automatic Data Lookup and Display
- 0Frame/Image Positioning
- 0Screen Positioning
- 0The Effect of Child Invocation on Screen Display
- 0Page Positioning
- 0The Effect of Scrolling Frames on Screen and Page Positioning
- 0Matrix Scrolling Mode
- 0Columnar Scrolling Mode
- 0Input Process Concepts
- 0Input Entry Levels
- 0Input Keymaps
- 0Input Modes
- 0Input Interactive Phases
- 0Automatically Saved Records
- 0Output Process Concepts
- 0Output Frame Classes
- 0Output Frame Class Execution
- 0Print Beside
- 0Update Process Concepts
- 0Query Process Concepts
- 0Query Setup versus Execution
- 0Query Files
- 0Job Process Concepts
- 0Inquiry Process Concepts
- 0Status Process Concepts
- 0Subroutine Process Concepts
- 0Performance Tuning
- 0Saving Executable Modules
- 0EM Caching
- 0Documentation
- 0Accessing Process Documentation Screens
- 0Security
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Chapter 3-3Process Definition
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Chapter 3-4Menu Processes
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Chapter 3-5Job Processes
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Chapter 3-6Input Processes
- 0Introduction to Input Processes
- 0Input Process Specifications
- 0Input Process Additional Attributes Option
- 0Input Process Rules Option
- 0Input Frame Specifications
- 0Input Frame Additional Attributes Option
- 0Input Frame Rules Option
- 0Input Frame Automatic Children Option
- 0Input Frame Toolbox Pulldown Menu
- 0Input Image Specifications
- 0Scrolling Input Image Specifications
- 0Scrolling Input Image Additional Attributes Option
- 0Input Image Rules Option
- 0Input Image Optional Children Option
- 0Scrolling Input Image in the Image Editor
- 0Non-Scrolling Input Image Specifications
- 0Non-Scrolling Input Image Additional Attributes Option
- 0Non-Scrolling Input Image in the Image Editor
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Chapter 3-7Output Processes
- 0Introduction to Output Processes
- 0Output Process Specifications
- 0Standard Column Heading Image Generation
- 0Output Process Additional Attributes Option
- 0Output Process Rules Option
- 0Output Frame Specifications
- 0Output Frame Additional Attributes Option
- 0Output Frame Rules Option
- 0Output Frame Automatic Children Option
- 0Output Frame Toolbox Pulldown Menu
- 0Output Image Specifications
- 0Scrolling Output Image Specifications
- 0Scrolling Output Image Additional Attributes Option
- 0Non-Scrolling Output Image Specifications
- 0Non-Scrolling Output Image Additional Attributes Option
- 0Output Image Rules Option
- 0Output Image in the Image Editor
- 0Designing GUI Output
- 0Printing PDF Output
- 0PDF Print on Screen Dialog
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Chapter 3-8Update Processes
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Chapter 3-9Query Processes
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Chapter 3-10Inquiry Processes
- 0Introduction to Inquiry Processes
- 0Inquiry Process Specifications
- 0Inquiry Process Rules Option
- 0Inquiry Process Additional Attributes Option
- 0Inquiry Frame Specifications
- 0Inquiry Frame Rules Option
- 0Inquiry Frame Additional Attributes Option
- 0Inquiry Frame Automatic Processes Option
- 0Inquiry Image Specifications
- 0Inquiry Image Rules Option
- 0Inquiry Image Additional Attributes Option
- 0Inquiry Image Optional Processes Option
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Chapter 3-11Status Processes
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Chapter 3-12Subroutine Processes
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Chapter 3-13Automatic and Optional Children
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Chapter 3-14Using the Image Editor
- 0Image Editor
- 0Image Editor Options
- 0Image Editor Toolbox Option
- 0Image Editor Toolbox Rules Option
- 0Editing or Defining Items on Images
- 0Image Item Specifications
- 0Image Item Toolbox Option
- 0Image Item Toolbox Rules Option
- 0Data Lookup Option
- 0Image Item Additional Attributes Option
- 0Alphanumeric Item Additional Attributes
- 0Date/Time Item Additional Attributes
- 0Display Mask (Date/Time)
- 0Logic Item Additional Attributes
- 0Numeric Item Additional Attributes
- 0Defining Image Characteristics
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Chapter 3-15Using GUI Features of the Image Editor
- 0GUI Features of the Image Editor
- 0Image Editor Toolbar
- 0Making Selections
- 0Using Guide Bars
- 0Cursor Types
- 0Moving and Resizing
- 0Image Editor Right-Click Menu
- 0APPX Data Palette
- 0Editing or Defining Data Objects for Images
- 0Data Object Specifications
- 0Painting Buttons, Labels, Pictures, and Boxes or Lines
- 0Painting Buttons
- 0Painting Labels
- 0Painting Pictures
- 0Changing and Deleting Graphical Items
- 0Use of Graphical Attributes
- 0Defining Graphical Attributes for Images
- 0Titlebar Options
- 0Window Options
- 0Shared Options and Name
- 0Defining Graphical Attributes for Optional Children
- 0Defining Graphical Attributes for Image Fields
- 0Image Field Control Options
- 0Image Field Font Options
- 0Image Field Border Options
- 0Image Field Other Options
- 0Image Field Tab Order Options
- 0Making Color Selections
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Chapter 3-16Using Event Points
- 0Event Points
- 0Process-Level Event Points
- 0Start of Process
- 0Set Run-Time Defaults
- 0Post PCF Read
- 0Pre-PCF Update
- 0Post PCF Update
- 0Query Process Event Points
- 0Start of Query Execution
- 0Establish PCF Range
- 0Pre-User Selection
- 0Post User Selection
- 0End of Query Execution
- 0End of Process
- 0Frame-Level Event Points
- 0Start of Frame
- 0Select Image
- 0Global Pre-Display
- 0Global Option Intercept
- 0End of Frame
- 0Effect of Optional Frames on Event Point Chronology
- 0Effect of Repeating Frames on Event Point Chronology
- 0Effect of Scrolling Frames on Event Point Chronology
- 0Image-Level Event Points
- 0Pre-Display
- 0Pre-Display/Verify
- 0Option Intercept
- 0Verify
- 0Child-Level Event Points
- 0Pre-Invocation
- 0Post Invocation
- 0Using the Predefined Field NEXT CHILD ID
- 0File Level Event Points
- 0File Open
- 0Post Read
- 0Pre-Update
- 0Post Update
- 0File Close
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Chapter 4-1ILF Integration
- 0Using ILF Routines
- 0An Example of a Statement
- 0The Components of a Statement
- 0The Statements Included in the ILF
- 0When to Invoke ILF Routines: Event Points
- 0Event Point Definition and Description
- 0The Steps in Using the ILF
- 0The ILF Editor
- 0The Compilation Step
- 0Resolving Compilation Errors
- 0Resolving Runtime Errors
- 0Using the ILF Debugger
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Chapter 4-2True/False Status Indicators
- 0How APPX Uses T/F Status Indicators
- 0Setting T/F Status Indicators
- 0T/F Status Indicator Values
- 0Statements That Affect T/F Status Indicators
- 0An Example of T/F Usage
- 0T/F Execution Condition Values
- 0Valid/Invalid Execution Conditions
- 0Using Hyphens as Placeholders
- 0Simple T/F Examples for Comparison
- 0Using AND and OR Statements
- 0Using AND After an IF Statement
- 0Using OR After an IF Statement
- 0Adding Execution Conditions
- 0Potential Misuse of AND and OR
- 0AND and OR with Statements Other Than IF
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Chapter 4-3Specifying Statements
- 0Specifying Statements
- 0Patterns of Statement Keyword Use
- 0Rules for Statement Components
- 0The T/F Execution Conditions
- 0The Statement Keyword
- 0The Application ID
- 0The File Name
- 0The Field Component
- 0Partial-Record I/O
- 0The Label
- 0The Occurrence Number
- 0Characteristic-Type Statements
- 0The Appearance Number
- 0The Arithmetic Operator
- 0The Relational Component
- 0The Message Text
- 0The FAIL (or FT) Parameter
- 0A Non-APPX Program Name
- 0Miscellaneous Operands
- 0Using Predefined Fields (PDFs) in Statements
- 0PDFs and Field-Naming
- 0The A through Z and AI through ZI PDFs
- 0Specifying Constant Values
- 0Universal Data Formats
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Chapter 4-4The ILF Editor
- 0The Editor and Automatic Compilation
- 0The Features of the Editor
- 0Invoking the ILF Editor
- 0The Layout of the Editor Screen
- 0The Help Option
- 0The Edit Modes and Options
- 0Save and Exit
- 0ADD MODE
- 0DELETE MODE
- 0CHANGE MODE
- 0Toolbox
- 0Move (Option 2)
- 0Search
- 0Replace (Option 5)
- 0XCopy (external copy)
- 0Restore All Deleted Statements (Option 11)
- 0Using Comments
-
Chapter 4-5The Debugger
- 0Analyzing Logic Errors
- 0The Features of the Debugger
- 0The Layout of the Debugger Screen
- 0Key Information
- 0Display and Debugging Area
- 0Data Values Area
- 0Options
- 0The TRAP Statement
- 0Conditional Execution of the TRAP Statement
- 0Hard Coded versus Dynamic Trapping
- 0The Options on the Debugger Screen
- 0Go
- 0StepInto
- 0Step/Ret
- 0Step/End
- 0[F3] Select (Clear or Set Trap)
- 0Add Mode (Debugger Screen)
- 0Watch Points
- 0Inquire Mode (Debugger Screen)
- 0Change Mode (Debugger Screen)
- 0Other Options
- 0Suggested Uses for the Debugger
- 0Leaving the Debugger
- 0Clearing Out Break Points
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Chapter 4-6ILF Keyword Reference
- 0* (Comment)
- 0** (Comment)
- 0AND
- 0APPEND
- 0AT FIELD
- 0BEG AT
- 0BEG LOOP
- 0BEG READ
- 0BLANK
- 0BLINK
- 0BOLD
- 0BRIGHT
- 0CALC
- 0CALC - Basic Functions)
- 0CALC - Exponential Functions)
- 0CALC - Trigonometric - Functions)
- 0CALL
- 0Using the CALL Statement to Access User-Provided Functions
- 0CANCEL
- 0CLOSE
- 0CNV BIN
- 0CNV PORT
- 0CNV TEXT
- 0COLOR
- 0COMMIT
- 0COMPUTE
- 0COPY
- 0CREATE
- 0DATE ADD
- 0DATE BTW
- 0DELETE
- 0DIM
- 0DISABLE
- 0DISPLAY
- 0ENABLE
- 0END
- 0END AT
- 0END LOOP
- 0END PROC
- 0END READ
- 0ERROR
- 0EXIT
- 0FONT
- 0GOSUB
- 0GOTO
- 0IF
- 0IF DIFF
- 0IF EXIST
- 0INPUT
- 0INQUIRY
- 0INVERSE
- 0JOB
- 0LABEL
- 0LOCAL
- 0LOGOUT
- 0MENU
- 0MESSAGE
- 0NO BOLD
- 0NO INPUT
- 0NO ULINE
- 0NORMAL
- 0OK INPUT
- 0OPEN
- 0OR
- 0OUTPUT
- 0OVERFLOW
- 0PASS
- 0PASS Lists
- 0PICTURE
- 0POSITION
- 0QUERY
- 0READ
- 0READNEXT
- 0RECEIVE
- 0REFRESH
- 0RESTORE
- 0RETURN
- 0REWRITE
- 0ROLLBACK
- 0RUN
- 0SAVEPNT
- 0SCAN
- 0SCRATCH
- 0SET
- 0When SET Destination is Alpha
- 0When SET Destination is a Number
- 0When SET Destination is a Date
- 0When SET Destination is a Logic Field
- 0SET DATE
- 0SET DAY
- 0SET MNTH
- 0SET TEMP
- 0SET TOT
- 0STATUS
- 0STORE
- 0SUBR
- 0TIMEOUT
- 0TOTAL
- 0TRAP
- 0ULINE
- 0UPDATE
- 0USE CC
- 0VERIFY
- 0WARNING
- 0WRITE
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Chapter 4-7Predefined Fields and Processes
- 0Runtime Application
- 0Predefined Fields (PDFs)
- 0Using Predefined Fields (PDFs)
- 0Categories of PDFs
- 0Current Status PDFs
- 0Process Control PDFs
- 0Terminal Management PDFs
- 0Report Management PDFs
- 0General Purpose PDFs
- 0Information Headings for PDF's
- 0Key to Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes
- 0Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes (Part 1)
- 0Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes (Part 2)
- 0Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes (Part 3)
- 0Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes (Part 4)
- 0Table 4-7-1: Predefined Fields Attributes (Part 5)
- 0A, B, C...Z
- 0AI, BI, CI...ZI
- 0ACCESS PATH
- 0ALTERNATE IMAGE NUMBER
- 0APPLICATION
- 0AUTO READNEXT
- 0BETWEEN
- 0BILLING CODE
- 0CANCEL OK
- 0CHILD ID
- 0COLOR BACKGROUND
- 0COLOR FOREGROUND
- 0COMMIT MODE
- 0COMPANY ADDRESS 1
- 0COMPANY ADDRESS 2
- 0COMPANY ADDRESS 3
- 0COMPANY NAME
- 0CURSOR AT APPEARANCE
- 0CURSOR AT OCCURRENCE
- 0CURSOR COLUMN
- 0CURSOR ROW
- 0DATABASE
- 0DEFAULT MODE
- 0ENTRY LEVEL
- 0ERRORS
- 0EXACT KEY REQUIRED
- 0FONT
- 0FORM LENGTH
- 0FORM WIDTH
- 0INCLUDE CHILDREN
- 0INCLUDE RECORD
- 0INTERACTIVE PHASE
- 0KEYMAP NAME
- 0LANGUAGE ID
- 0LINES LEFT ON PAGE
- 0LOG BANNER
- 0LOG COPIES
- 0LOG FILE DISPOSITION
- 0LOG FILE PATHNAME
- 0LOG FORM ID
- 0LOG FORMAT
- 0LOG HARD COPY
- 0LOG MODE
- 0LOG NOTIFY USER
- 0LOG ON SCREEN
- 0LOG PRINTER ID
- 0LOG PRIORITY
- 0LOG REPORT OPTIONS
- 0LOG SPOOL DATE
- 0MODE
- 0NEW PAGE AFTER
- 0NEW PAGE BEFORE
- 0NEXT APPLICATION
- 0NEXT CHILD ID
- 0NEXT DATABASE
- 0NEXT LANGUAGE ID
- 0NEXT PROCESS NAME
- 0NEXT VERSION
- 0OPERATIONAL PHASE
- 0OPTION
- 0PAGE NUMBER
- 0PAN COLUMN
- 0PAN ROW
- 0PRINT BANNER
- 0PRINT COPIES
- 0PRINT FILE BROWSABLE
- 0PRINT FILE DISPOSITION
- 0PRINT FILE PATHNAME
- 0PRINT FORM ID
- 0PRINT FORMAT
- 0PRINT HARD COPY
- 0PRINT MODE
- 0PRINT NOTIFY USER
- 0PRINT ON SCREEN
- 0PRINT PAGE ESTIMATE
- 0PRINT PRINTER ID
- 0PRINT PRIORITY
- 0PRINT RECORD LIMIT
- 0PRINT REPORT OPTIONS
- 0PRINT SPOOL DATE
- 0PRINT SUMMARY ONLY
- 0PROCESS CODE
- 0PROCESS NAME
- 0PROCESS TYPE
- 0RECORD NUMBER
- 0RETURN CODE
- 0SCROLL TO END
- 0SELECTED APPLICATION
- 0SELECTED DATABASE
- 0SELECTED VERSION
- 0SKIP AFTER
- 0SKIP BEFORE
- 0SOURCE APPLICATION
- 0SOURCE VERSION
- 0STATUS CODE
- 0SUBHEADING
- 0SUBMIT DATE
- 0SUBMIT MODE
- 0SUBMIT NOTIFY USER
- 0SUBMIT OPTIONS
- 0SUBMIT PRIORITY
- 0SUBMIT PROCESS
- 0SUBMIT QUEUE
- 0TEMP 1
- 0TEMP 2
- 0TEMP 4
- 0TEMP 30
- 0TEMP 30 CTR
- 0TEMP 30 LJ
- 0TEMP 30 RJ
- 0TEMP 32
- 0TEMP 79
- 0TEMP 80
- 0TEMP 132
- 0TEMP 256
- 0TEMP 512
- 0TEMP 2K
- 0TEMP 8K
- 0TEMP 32K
- 0TEXT AT POSITION
- 0USER ID
- 0VERSION
- 0WARNINGS
- 0Predefined Processes
- 0Designer-Invoked Processes
- 0APPX MENU
- 0BEGIN LIVE OPERATIONS
- 0CHECK GUI CLIENT
- 0DISPOSITION
- 0DISPOSITION (BACKGROUND)
- 0ENTER BILLING CODE
- 0GET FILE FROM CLIENT
- 0PROCESS QUERY RECORD
- 0SELECT DATABASE
- 0SEND FILE TO CLIENT