form_field_buffer(3X)													     form_field_buffer(3X)

NAME

       form_field_buffer - field buffer control

SYNOPSIS

       #include <form.h>

       int set_field_buffer(FIELD *field, int buf, const char *value);
       char *field_buffer(const FIELD *field, int buffer);
       int set_field_status(FIELD *field, bool status);
       bool field_status(const FIELD *field);
       int set_max_field(FIELD *field, int max);

DESCRIPTION

       The function set_field_buffer sets the numbered buffer of the given field to contain a given string:

	  o   Buffer 0 is the displayed value of the field.

	  o   Other  numbered  buffers	may be allocated by applications through the nbuf argument of (see form_field_new(3X)) but are not manipu-
	      lated by the forms library.

       The function field_buffer returns a pointer to the contents of the given numbered buffer:

	  o   The buffer contents always have the same length, and are padded with trailing spaces as needed to ensure this length is the same.

	  o   The buffer may contain leading spaces, depending on how it was set.

	  o   The buffer contents are set with set_field_buffer, or as a side effect of any editing operations on the corresponding field.

	  o   Editing operations are based on the window which displays the field, rather than a string.  The window contains only printable char-
	      acters,  and is filled with blanks.  If you want the raw data, you must write your own routine that copies the value out of the buf-
	      fer and removes the leading and trailing spaces.

	  o   Because editing operations change the content of the buffer to correspond to the window, you should not rely on  using  buffers  for
	      long-term storage of form data.

       The  function  set_field_status sets the associated status flag of field; field_status gets the current value.  The status flag is set to a
       nonzero value whenever the field changes.

       The function set_max_field sets the maximum size for a dynamic field.  An argument of 0 turns off  any  maximum	size  threshold  for  that
       field.

RETURN VALUE

       The field_buffer function returns NULL on error.  It sets errno according to their success:

       E_OK The routine succeeded.

       E_BAD_ARGUMENT
	    Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

       The field_status function returns TRUE or FALSE.

       The remaining routines return one of the following:

       E_OK The routine succeeded.

       E_SYSTEM_ERROR
	    System error occurred (see errno).

       E_BAD_ARGUMENT
	    Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

SEE ALSO

       curses(3X) and related pages whose names begin "form_" for detailed descriptions of the entry points.

NOTES

       The header file <form.h> automatically includes the header file

       When  configured for wide characters, field_buffer returns a pointer to temporary storage (allocated and freed by the library).	The appli-
       cation should not attempt to modify the data.  It will be freed on the next call to field_buffer to return the same buffer.  <curses.h>.

PORTABILITY

       These routines emulate the System V forms library.  They were not supported on Version 7 or BSD versions.

AUTHORS

       Juergen Pfeifer.  Manual pages and adaptation for new curses by Eric S. Raymond.

															     form_field_buffer(3X)