# Screens of Users **URL:** \ **Category:** Forum\ **Tags:** Adabas-Natural, Natural, Natural-on-Linux, Natural-on-Windows-Unix\ **Created:** [October 13, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572 "2012-10-13T20:58:38Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 17\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 8:58pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/1 "2012-10-13T20:58:38Z")
hello a doubt in mainframe/natural environment. most screens that users work are with MAPS or directly into programs-natural (not-MAPS)? ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Zbrog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/ralph_zbrog/32/78_2.png) [@Ralph\_Zbrog](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Ralph_Zbrog)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:20pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/2 "2012-10-13T21:20:10Z")
Developers like external maps because the map editor makes it easier to visualize the screen. With external maps, it’s easy to create a multilingual system because Natural will invoke the appropriate language-specific map. External maps are handled internally as subprograms, so their use comes with a minor cost in performance compared to in-line maps. On Open Systems, “selection boxes” are available to external maps, but not to in-line maps. I don’t recall any other differences. ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 13, 2012, 9:25pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/3 "2012-10-13T21:25:37Z")
Thanks ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 5:44pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/4 "2012-10-16T17:44:46Z")
in relation to maps and windows there is some relationship serves more than for either? or better is to use everything in maps? ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/original/3X/c/d/cd19967bb605d28a72d77eb83a1cae22f3df2eb8.svg) [@system](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:47pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/5 "2012-10-16T18:47:12Z")
I don’t think there is a real benefit to not using maps for screen oriented applications, and I haven’t seen someone actually using INPUT statements for screen oriented stuff since many years. ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 16, 2012, 6:50pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/6 "2012-10-16T18:50:26Z")
in short always use maps not use input or windows or other for natural only maps, this? ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Zbrog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/ralph_zbrog/32/78_2.png) [@Ralph\_Zbrog](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Ralph_Zbrog)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 6:03am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/7 "2012-10-17T06:03:56Z")
Production on-line applications will use external maps more often than inline maps, but inline maps have their place. For example, to supply parameters to batch programs or to supply selection criteria for simple reports. ```auto DEFINE DATA LOCAL 1 EMP VIEW EMPLOYEES 2 DEPT 2 PERSONNEL-ID 2 NAME 2 FIRST-NAME 1 #DEPT-T (A26) INIT <"COMP01" - H'FF'> 1 REDEFINE #DEPT-T 2 #DEPT-F (A6) END-DEFINE FORMAT KD=T SET KEY PF3 NAMED 'Stop' * REPEAT INPUT (AD=MDLT IP=F) *PROGRAM (AD=O) 10T 'Employees Report' 60T *DAT4U *TIME (AL=5) // 10T 'Employee Department:' #DEPT-F IF *PF-NAME = 'Stop' OR SUBSTR (#DEPT-F, 1, 1) = '.' THEN STOP END-IF RESET *PAGE-NUMBER READ EMP BY DEPT-PERSON FROM #DEPT-F TO #DEPT-T DISPLAY EMP.DEPT (IS=T) EMP.NAME EMP.PERSONNEL-ID END-READ END-REPEAT END ``` I know of one shop that uses internal maps exclusively because the use of external maps use more CPU. What do you mean by “windows or other”? ---
**Author:** ![Matthias1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/9fc348/32.png) [@Matthias1](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Matthias1)\ **Post date:** [October 17, 2012, 10:29am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/8 "2012-10-17T10:29:00Z")
The biggest advantage of maps from my point of view is: Maps can be language-dependant. And humans are language-dependant, too. 😉 So only one thing remains: INPUT-Statements for non-humans - like Batches (as Ralph Zbrog already wrote). ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 5:39pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/9 "2012-10-18T17:39:21Z")
the object “dialog” are widely used? or are used only maps? which aims to serve the “dialog”? ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Zbrog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/ralph_zbrog/32/78_2.png) [@Ralph\_Zbrog](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Ralph_Zbrog)\ **Post date:** [October 18, 2012, 8:34pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/10 "2012-10-18T20:34:37Z")
Dialogs are available only under Natural for Windows. They are not available under NaturalONE nor Natural for the mainframe (where most users are). They are here to stay because some large and influential customers use them. Dialogs can incorprate Windows features, such as ActiveX controls, and can integrate MS Office functions. ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 3:04pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/11 "2012-10-29T15:04:37Z")
Hi, a question more about maps how maps support the use of mouse in mainframe environment is normal or you can use the mouse? wonder if this is in connection telnet (character) is not possible more from what I understand this forum there are many tools that are used to access the mainframe ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/original/3X/c/d/cd19967bb605d28a72d77eb83a1cae22f3df2eb8.svg) [@system](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 6:55pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/12 "2012-10-29T18:55:18Z")
The mouse can be used to position the cursor at a specific field, but that’s all a mouse will help on a map. ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 7:10pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/13 "2012-10-29T19:10:47Z")
Ok. Mouse use only to click field. for creating menus: what is more commonly used? - Menus with entering numbers / letters or - Menus with the function of creating menus map editor? (so the User can use the mouse) ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Zbrog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/ralph_zbrog/32/78_2.png) [@Ralph\_Zbrog](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Ralph_Zbrog)\ **Post date:** [October 29, 2012, 8:44pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/14 "2012-10-29T20:44:32Z")
If the map is displayed in a character-based window, then you can place the cursor in any position and press ENTER or a PF-key. Many mainframe-based applications rely on this to provide users with “drill-down” functionality - a detail line on the screen is selected with the cursor and then the appropriate function is invoked with a PF-key. Under Windows, maps are presented graphically, and you can’t move the cursor to a protected field. PFkey-drilldown is possible only if each detail line contains at least one modifiable field. But for menus, you can give users the option of code or cursor selection, because PF keys are not required. Under Natural for Windows, you can double-click a protected field. This has the effect of pressing ENTER, but the position of the cursor is known. By interrogating the value of \*CURS-LINE, you should be able to “compute” which menu entry the user selected. For those who prefer the keyboard, let them select by number; for those who prefer the mouse, let them select via double-click. ---
**Author:** ![Claudio\_Muller](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/claudio_muller/32/518_2.png) [@Claudio\_Muller](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Claudio_Muller)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 3:09pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/15 "2012-10-31T15:09:38Z")
ESC in map alwyas close all programs? MENU → MAP\_MENU → PF2 (INSERT) → program INSERT → MAP INSER (esc close all) In INSERT / MAP INSERT (PF10 go MENU) ---
**Author:** ![Ralph\_Zbrog](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/ralph_zbrog/32/78_2.png) [@Ralph\_Zbrog](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Ralph_Zbrog)\ **Post date:** [October 31, 2012, 6:18pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/16 "2012-10-31T18:18:44Z")
The ESC key is intended for use by programmers to force the end of an errant program during testing. For end-users this key should be disabled. Under Tools → Options → Output Window, set Disable ESC key. ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/original/3X/c/d/cd19967bb605d28a72d77eb83a1cae22f3df2eb8.svg) [@system](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 3:02pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/screens-of-users/101572/17 "2021-04-02T15:02:29Z")