The following steps describe how to use the DIALOG statement:
Create a form specification file containing screen record(s)
and/or screen array(s). The screen records and screen arrays
identify the presentation elements to be used by the runtime system
to display the data models (i.e. the content of program variables
bound to the DIALOG instruction).
With the DEFINE instruction, declare program
variables (i.e. records and arrays) that will be used as data
models. For record lists (DISPLAY ARRAY or INPUT
ARRAY), the members of the program array must correspond
to the elements of the screen array, by number and data types.
To handle record lists, use dynamic arrays instead of static
arrays.
Open and display the form, using a the OPEN WINDOW
WITH FORM clause or the OPEN FORM / DISPLAY
FORM instructions.
Fill the program variables with data. For lists, you typically
use a result set cursor.
Implement the DIALOG instruction block
to handle interaction. Define each sub-dialog with program variables
to be used as data models. The sub-dialogs will define how variables
will be used (display or input).
Inside the DIALOG instruction, control
the behavior of the instructions with control blocks, such as BEFORE
DIALOG, AFTER ROW, BEFORE
FIELD, or ON ACTION.
To end the DIALOG instruction, implement
an ON ACTION close or ON ACTION accept / ON
ACTION cancel to handle dialog validation and cancellation,
with the ACCEPT DIALOG and EXIT DIALOG control
instructions. The INT_FLAG variable will not
be set as in singular dialogs.