Syntax of the DIALOG statement

The DIALOG block is an interactive instruction that executes several sub-dialogs simultaneously.

Syntax

DIALOG
   [ ATTRIBUTE ( dialog-control-attribute [,...] ) ] 

   { record-input-block
   | construct-block
   | display-array-block
   | input-array-block
   | SUBDIALOG dialog-name
   }
   [...]

   [
   dialog-control-block 
   [...]
   ]

END DIALOG

where dialog-control-attribute is:

{ FIELD ORDER FORM
| UNBUFFERED [ = boolean ]
}

where dialog-name in the SUBDIALOG clause is the name of a sub-dialog defined as declarative dialog block outside the scope of the current function:

DIALOG dialog-name ()
   [ DEFINE variable-definition [,...] ]
   { record-input-block
   | construct-block
   | display-array-block
   | input-array-block
   }  
END DIALOG

where record-input-block is:

{
INPUT BY NAME { variable | record.* } [,...]
|
INPUT { variable | record.* } [,...] FROM field-list
}
   [ ATTRIBUTE ( input-control-attribute [,...] ) ] 
   [ input-control-block 
       [...]
   ]
END INPUT

where input-control-attribute is:

{ HELP = help-number
| NAME = "sub-dialog-name"
| WITHOUT DEFAULTS [ = boolean ]
}

where input-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE INPUT
| BEFORE FIELD field-spec [,...]
| ON CHANGE field-spec [,...]
| AFTER FIELD field-spec [,...]
| AFTER INPUT
| ON ACTION action-name [INFIELD field-spec]
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] )}
    dialog-statement
    [...]

where construct-block is:

{
CONSTRUCT BY NAME variable ON column-list
| 
CONSTRUCT variable ON column-list FROM field-list
}
   [ ATTRIBUTE ( construct-control-attribute [,...] ) ] 
   [ construct-control-block
       [...]
   ]
END CONSTRUCT

where construct-control-attribute is:

{ HELP = help-number
| NAME = "sub-dialog-name"
}

where construct-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE CONSTRUCT
| BEFORE FIELD field-spec [,...]
| ON CHANGE field-spec [,...]
| AFTER FIELD field-spec [,...]
| AFTER CONSTRUCT
| ON ACTION action-name [INFIELD field-spec]
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] )}
    dialog-statement
    [...]

where display-array-block is:

DISPLAY ARRAY array TO screen-array.*
   [ ATTRIBUTE ( display-array-control-attribute [,...] ) ]
   [ display-array-control-block 
       [...]
   ]
END DISPLAY

where display-array-control-attribute is:

{ HELP = help-number
| COUNT = row-count
| KEEP CURRENT ROW = [ = boolean ]
}

where display-array-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE DISPLAY
| BEFORE ROW
| AFTER ROW
| AFTER DISPLAY
| ON ACTION action-name 
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] )
| ON FILL BUFFER
| ON APPEND
| ON INSERT
| ON UPDATE
| ON DELETE
| ON EXPAND ( row-index )
| ON COLLAPSE ( row-index )
| ON DRAG_START ( dnd-object )
| ON DRAG_FINISH ( dnd-object )
| ON DRAG_ENTER( dnd-object )
| ON DRAG_OVER ( dnd-object )
| ON DROP ( dnd-object ) }
    dialog-statement
    [...]

where input-array-block is:

INPUT ARRAY array FROM screen-array.*
   [ ATTRIBUTE ( input-array-control-attribute [,...] ) ]
   [ input-array-control-block 
       [...]
   ]
END INPUT

where input-array-control-attribute is:

{ APPEND ROW [ = boolean ]
| AUTO APPEND [ = boolean ]
| COUNT = row-count
| DELETE ROW [ = boolean ]
| HELP = help-number
| INSERT ROW [ = boolean ]
| KEEP CURRENT ROW [ = boolean ]
| MAXCOUNT = max-row-count
| WITHOUT DEFAULTS [ = boolean ]
}

where input-array-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE INPUT
| BEFORE ROW
| BEFORE FIELD [,...] 
| ON CHANGE field-spec [,...] 
| AFTER FIELD field-spec [,...] 
| ON ROW CHANGE
| AFTER ROW
| BEFORE DELETE
| AFTER DELETE
| BEFORE INSERT
| AFTER INSERT
| AFTER INPUT
| ON ACTION action-name  [INFIELD field-spec] 
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] ) }
    dialog-statement
    [...]

where dialog-control-block is one of:

{ BEFORE DIALOG
| ON ACTION action-name  
| ON KEY ( key-name [,...] )
| ON IDLE idle-seconds 
| COMMAND option-name
        [ option-comment ]
        [ HELP help-number ]
| COMMAND KEY ( key-name  [,...] ) option-name
        [ option-comment ]
        [ HELP help-number ]
| AFTER DIALOG
}
    dialog-statement
    [...]

where dialog-statement is one of:

{ statement
| ACCEPT DIALOG
| CONTINUE DIALOG
| EXIT DIALOG
| NEXT FIELD
   { CURRENT
   | NEXT
   | PREVIOUS
   | field-spec
   }
}

where field-list defines a list of fields with one or more of:

{ field-name
| table-name.* 
| table-name.field-name 
| screen-array[line].* 
| screen-array[line].field-name
| screen-record.*
| screen-record.field-name
} [,...]

where field-spec identifies a unique field with one of:

{ field-name 
| table-name.field-name 
| screen-array.field-name
| screen-record.field-name
}

where column-list defines a list of database columns as:

{ column-name
| table-name.*
| table-name.column-name
} [,...]

variable-definition is a variable declaration with data type as in a regular DEFINE statement.
array is the array of records used by the DIALOG statement.
help-number is an integer that allows you to associate a help message number with the command.
field-name is the identifier of a field of the current form.
option-name is a string expression defining the label of the action and identifying the action that can be executed by the user.
option-comment is a string expression containing a description for the menu option, displayed when option-name is the current.
column-name is the identifier of a database column of the current form.
table-name is the identifier of a database table of the current form.
variable is a simple program variable (not a record).
record is a program record (structured variable).
screen-array is the screen array that will be used in the current form.
line is a screen array line in the form.
screen-record is the identifier of a screen record of the current form.
action-name identifies an action that can be executed by the user.
idle-seconds is an integer literal or variable that defines a number of seconds.
key-name is a hot-key identifier (like F11 or Control-z).
row-index identifies the program variable which holds the row index corresponding to the tree node that has been expanded or collapsed.
dnd-object references a ui.DragDrop variable defined in the scope of the dialog.
statement is any instruction supported by the language.