FORM clause
Reuse the definition of a form in the current form.
Syntax
FORM "form-file"- form-file is the form to be included (without .per extension).
Usage
The FORM clause includes an external form at the current layout position,
enforcing form re-usability, or to solve form complexity when using a DIALOG
instruction; for example to define a common form header for several application forms.
Wherever
a layout container can be specified, the layout of an external
form can be merged into the layout of the current form, with the
FORM clause. See External form inclusion.
The .per source of the included form must be readable. If the compiled version (.42f) does not exist, or is older than the .per source, fglform will automatically compile the included form. The included forms can be located in a different directory as the main form.
The form compiler searches for the external form relative to the path of the current
compiled form. For example, with fglform dir1/dir2/main.per, when the main form
includes an external form with FORM "../otherdir/subform",
fglform will include the form file located in
dir1/otherdir/subform.per.
The form compiler performs an up-to-date test of the compiled form. Error -6842 is thrown if the up-to-date test fails.
If the external form contains a TOOLBAR or a TOPMENU
section, error -6841 is
thrown.
The external form must not define a SCREEN RECORD or use a
TABLE already defined in the current form, otherwise error -2024 is thrown. Consider using the
table alias syntax to avoid duplicate
table names in merged forms.
The external form can define its own ACTION DEFAULTS section.
The action defaults of the external file will be merged into the
action defaults of the current form.
The TABINDEX attributes
of the elements of the result form will be adjusted. As the result
tabbing (OPTIONS FIELD ORDER FORM in programs) keeps
the visual order of the layout.
Example
LAYOUT
FOLDER
PAGE page1 (TEXT = "Customer")
FORM "customer"
END
PAGE page2 (TEXT = "Orders")
FORM "orders"
END
END
END