3.6 Using Prompts

Instead of entering or changing code directly in the Editor window, you can use prompts. When you request a prompt for a specification line, a window appears where you can enter or change that line using convenient entry fields.

Prompting for a C Specification

Follow these steps:

  1. Move your cursor to row 24.
  2. Select Edit > Locate > Line and enter 24. Line 24 is selected (sequence number 002400).

  3. Select the Edit menu bar choice, then select Prompt. A window appears showing the specification line broken down into its individual fields.
  4. You can press F4 to prompt for a specification window.

Viewing Help for a Specification Field

Help is available for each of the specification fields. Let's see how you can get cursor-sensitive help.

Follow these steps:

  1. Move your cursor to the Operation and Extender field and press F1 or click Help. The Help page appears, giving you information about an ILE RPG/400 operation code, in this case CHAIN.

    help1.gif (5761 bytes)

    Some words in the help appear in a different color (or in reverse image). These are help links, and they show that there is additional help available on that word or phrase.

  2. Click on the phrase File Operations to see a list of possible file operation codes.
  3. Each file operation code listed in the Help window has a link to another panel that contains syntax help for that code. The first instance of such a help link is automatically selected. Double-click on one of them, or use the Tab key to move to it and press Enter.
  4. Select Close from the system menu to close the Help window, or press Alt+F4.
  5. Select Cancel to close the Calculation prompt window without changing the source.
  6. When you use prompts to edit or add to your source, and then select OK, the changes are added to the program in the appropriate column, and the syntax is checked automatically (assuming Syntax checking is enabled.)

    If you want to insert lines into the file using prompts, select the Edit menu bar choice, then select Insert prompt. The Editor displays new prompt windows for you to insert ILE RPG specification lines until you select Cancel.

Click on to indicate that you've done all the steps.