Entering Escape Code
There are several ways in which you can enter escape code:
• Directly in the escape code pop-up window
• With the default system editor
• From an external file
Each of these methods is described below.
How You Can Enter Escape Code Directly in the Window
When Vision displays the pop-up window for writing escape code, you can enter your code directly in the window. The standard Ingres window editing keys and functions are available.
The following edit operations are available in the escape code pop-up window:
Edit
Calls the editor for you to write your escape code, as described in How You Can Enter Escape Code Using the System Editor, in this topic
Blank
Clears the window. Be aware that there is no "undelete" function to restore text after you have cleared the window.
LineEdit
Displays a submenu with these line editing functions:
InsertLine
Inserts a blank line above the line on which the cursor is positioned
DeleteLine
Deletes the line on which the cursor is positioned
SplitLine
Divides a line into two lines at the point where the cursor is positioned
JoinLines
Moves the next line to the end of the line on which the cursor is positioned
Variables
Lets you create or edit local variables or global components to use in escape code
Save
Saves the escape code you have entered
How You Can Enter Escape Code Using the System Editor
You can use your system editor to write your escape code, rather than using the line edit functions. Vision uses the default system editor.
See your Ingres system administrator if you want to change this default.
To write escape code using your system editor:
1. When Vision displays the pop-up window for entering escape code, select Edit from the menu.
Vision calls the system editor and opens a file.
2. Enter your code in the window, using the standard editor operations.
3. When you are finished entering your code, save your file and exit from the editor.
Vision places the text from the file into the escape code pop-up window.
To edit the file containing this code, select Edit again. Vision redisplays the file.
How You Can Enter Escape Code Using External Files
When editing escape code, you can use external text files to:
• Write text from the window to a file.
• Read text from a file to the window.
Using an external text file is especially convenient if you are using the same or similar escape code in more than one place. You can write the code to a file when you first create it, then read in this file for additional instances of escape code.
When you write escape code to an external file, you simply are using it to store your code. Vision does not access the file itself when it runs a frame containing the escape code.
You can store a basic version of the code in the file, call the file, and change the code as needed each time you use it.
To write escape code to a file
1. Enter the code in the escape code pop-up window.
2. Select File from the menu.
3. Select WriteFile from the submenu.
Vision prompts you for a file name.
4. Enter the name of the file in which you want to save your escape code.
If the file is not in the current directory, be sure to enter the entire directory path.
5. Press Return.
Vision saves your text in the file and returns you to the escape code pop-up window.
To read escape code from a file
1. Display the pop-up window for entering escape code.
2. Select File from the menu.
3. Select ReadFile from the submenu.
Vision prompts you for the name of the file.
If the file is not in the current directory, be sure to enter the entire directory path.
4. Enter the name of the file containing the escape code and press Return.
Vision writes the file to the window. If any text is in the window, Vision places the contents of the file above the line on which the cursor is positioned.
If you make any changes to the file text while it is displayed in the window, you can either write the new text back to the file or create a new file.