The WITH FORM clause

Creating a window object with a form.

The WITH FORM clause can be used to specify the name of a compiled form file to be used to create a window. A window object is automatically opened and sized to the screen layout of the form.

OPEN WINDOW w1 WITH FORM "custlist"

Note: When using the TUI mode, the width of the window is from the left-most character on the screen form (including leading blank spaces) to the right-most character on the screen form (truncating trailing blank spaces). The length of the window is calculated as (form line) + (form length).

It is recommended that you use the WITH FORM clause, especially in the default GUI mode, because the window is created in accordance with the form. If you use this clause, you do not need the OPEN FORM, DISPLAY FORM, or CLOSE FORM statement to open and close the form. The CLOSE WINDOW statement closes the window and the form.

Important:

The form file name identifies the compiled .42f file to be loaded. The file name may use a .42f extension, but this is not recommended.

The file name can be a simple file name, a relative file path, or an absolute file path.

When using a simple file name or a relative path, form files are found relative to several directories in a given order, as described in the FGLRESOURCEPATH reference topic.
When specifying an absolute path, FGLRESOURCEPATH (or DBPATH) is not used. On Windows®, an absolute file name must start with a drive letter ( C: ), a backslash ( \ ) or a slash ( / ). If FGLRESOURCEPATH contains a driver letter ( C: ), a form file specified as "/foo/bar" will only be found in "C:/foo/bar", if C: is the current drive.