HP Integrity NonStop J-Series - Manual (Page 246)

Sample Project-Tracking System
Determining the Format of the Screens
When you define the organization of a tree, visualize the effect
this has on the layout of the screen.
Since the purpose of the "project-entry" application is to enter
and maintain information about projects and events, you might
assume that a box representing the "projects" file should be the
first to appear in the tree structure. The intended users of
this application, however, are project managers who will have to
enter their employee numbers in the "projects" file. You can
make this task easier by making the box that represents the
"employs" file the first box in the tree structure. If you link
this box to the "projects" box using "emp-no" and "proj-mgr" (the
field for the project manager's employee number) as the join
fields, the application will automatically insert the project
manager's employee number in the "projects" file.
Determining the Format of the Screens
After you define the tree structure for each application, you can
define the detailed format of each screen, using the following
guidelines:
• The first field that appears on the screen should be
a key field.
This guideline is particularly appropriate for applications
whose primary function is to display information. Consider
the "project-info" application. Its purpose is to display
information about a project and the events associated with
that project. A user of this application can expect to enter
a value in the first screen field, press a function key, and
see the desired information.
• For a multifile application, arrange the screen so that all
fields appear within a box before any join fields.
Not only is the screen more attractive, the applications
are easier to use.
• Consider excluding fields from the screen if a user of the
application does not need them.
When a project manager uses the "project-entry" application to
enter information about a project and its events, there is no
need to enter information in the "revised-start-date,"
"revised-end-date," "change-info," or "update-emp" fields.
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