1.7.4 Display the Online Guide and Search the Dictionary

If the HELP key (or the HELP function key) is pressed at any time while working within LANSA (rather than within a user application created by LANSA) and the screen cursor is NOT on the same line as a message then a screen showing related subjects will be displayed.

The list of subjects initially displayed will be "related" to the task being performed when the HELP key was used.

The example below shows what may result if the HELP key was used when reviewing or creating a new field definition:

 

SUBJECTS        LANSA Online Guide - Selected Subjects                                                                                        Type action next to each desired subject, then press Enter.              1=Display  5=Print                                                                                                                          Action  Subject                                                          _     Defining new fields in the LANSA dictionary                      _     Amending existing fields in the LANSA dictionary                 _     Impact of field definition changes on file definitions           _     Impact of field definition changes on process definitions        _     Creating a field reference file                                                                                                                                                                              Fnn=Ex HELP Fnn=Exit Fnn=Cancel Fnn=Messages Fnn=Contents

Working from the LANSA Online Guide's Selected Subjects screen you can:

• Invoke the extended HELP facility to search the LANSA data dictionary or the Online Guide's table of contents. Use the "Ex HELP" function key to invoke the "Extended HELP Facility". Refer to 1.7.5 The Extended HELP Facility for details.

• Display the entire table of contents of the Online Guide. To do this use the "Contents" function key. The resulting display will be identical to the one above, except that the title will indicate "All Subjects" and the entire table of contents will be accessible.

• Display subject(s) from the Online Guide. Select the desired subject(s) from the list on display by entering a "1" beside the subject(s) in the column headed "Action", and then pressing enter. The full text of each subject chosen will then be displayed.

• Print subject(s) from the Online Guide. Select the desired subject(s) from the list on display by entering a "5" beside the subject(s) in the column headed "Action", and then pressing enter. The full text of each subject chosen will then be printed onto your current output queue.

To return to what was being done before the HELP key was pressed use the "Exit" function key or "Cancel" function key or press enter without selecting any subject(s) to be displayed or printed.