You create forms using the VIFRED utility. After creating a form, you have the option of compiling the form (in VIFRED). Uncompiled forms can be changed without recompiling the application that uses them, but the application must retrieve the form definition when the form is declared. Compiled forms are linked into the application, eliminating the need to retrieve the form definition at run time, but the application must be recompiled if the form is changed.

To use a form in an application, you must declare the form to the FRS using the forminit (for uncompiled forms) or addform (for compiled forms) statement, as explained below.