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Character User Interface (FMLI and ETI)

Glossary


alias
a short name that can be used in FMLI scripts in place of a long pathname or a list of paths to search. An FMLI developer defines aliases in an alias file. Alias definitions have the format alias=pathname.


alias file
a script which contains alias definitions, each on a separate line. An alias file is optional, but if one is written, it must be named as an argument when fmli is invoked.


alternate keystrokes
a sequence of keystrokes, usually beginning with a CTRL key and consisting entirely of keys that are standard on all keyboards, which cause the same action to occur that occurs when a named key is pressed. Alternate keystrokes are necessary because many keyboards do not have a complete set of the named keys used by FMLI applications. For example, when the name key ­ is not available on a keyboard, users can type the alternate keystrokes CTRL-u.


application
an executable program, usually unique to one type of users' work, such as an accounting application. Applications are frequently interactive environments in which the user can perform various related tasks. See "FMLI application."


argument
a character string or number that follows a command and controls its execution in some way. There are two types of arguments; options, and operands. Options change the execution or output of the command. Operands provide data that will be operated on by the command. Arguments to the open command are saved in built-in variables readable (only) by the frame opened.


ASCII
an acronym for American Standard Code for Information Interchange. ASCII code uses one byte of computer memory to represent each character. Each alphanumeric and special character has an ASCII equivalent. When files and directories are printed according to the ASCII code equivalent of the first letter of their names, the order is called ASCII collating sequence. The order is special characters first, numbers second, then upper case and lower case letters.


backquoted expression
a command line enclosed in backquotes, whose output is returned as a value. The output of the command replaces the backquotes and the command line within the backquotes. In FMLI, this output can be used as an, argument for another command, assigned to a variable, or assigned to a descriptor.


banner line
the top line of the screen in FMLI applications, used to display the application's title and a Working message that indicates when the application is busy.


cast
an expression which describes the nature or use of that which follows it to the interpreter. In FMLI, casts are used: (1) to describe whether a file is a menu definition file, a from definition file, or a text frame definition file; (2) to indicate how often to evaluate a descriptor.


choices menu
a menu that can be provided to show a list of possible entries to a form field. An FMLI application developer defines choices where appropriate through the use of the rmenu descriptor.


command
one of a set of executables built into FMLI, such as open and close, to which descriptors of type command must evaluate.


commands file
a script in which an FMLI developer can redefine or disable FMLI built-in commands, and define new, application-specific commands. The contents of a commands file are reflected in the Command Menu. Users can execute a command by selecting it from the Command Menu, or by typing it on the FMLI command line. A commands file is optional, but if one is written, it must be named as an argument when fmli is invoked.


command line
the next-to-the-last line on the screen in FMLI applications, where users can enter an application's commands without using the menus provided in the application.


command menu
A menu provided automatically in FMLI applications that lists a sub-set of the FMLI built-in command and any application-specific commands that have been defined in a commands file. Users can execute a command in the Command Menu by selecting it, as in any menu. The Command Menu can be made current by pressing the CMD-MENU function key.


current
the frame, menu item, form field, or activity in which the cursor is positioned. An element of the FMLI screen which is current is usually distinguished in some way from other screen elements being displayed—the current frame, for example,, may be shown in bright video, while non-current frames may be shown in half-bright video. User input is processed by, or applies to, the current frame, item, etc.


daemon
a background process that performs a system-wide public function. The UNIX System process init may spawn daemon processes that exist throughout the lifetime of the system. Daemons (often) continue to run after their parents terminate. An example of a daemon process is calendar(1).


descriptor
an element of the Form and Menu Language that defines some aspect of the look (appearance or location of an element of your application), or feel (an action to take in response to user input). A descriptor is coded in the format dname=value, where dname is one of the set of Form and Menu Language descriptors and value is, or generates, an expression of a type appropriate for the particular descriptor. Each Form and Menu Language descriptor is only meaningful in a particular context (i.e., a menu frame, a form frame, etc.).


dynamic frame
a frame whose contents are determined at run-time.


environment
a set of UNIX system shell variables created and assigned values by the system when a user logs in. The system executes programs that set these variables based on information it gets from /etc/profile, the shell, login(1), and the user's .profile file. In FMLI, variables can be added to the environment with the set (1F) built-in utility, and removed from the environment with the unset (1F) utility. FMLI also defines a local environment that contains variables known only to the FMLI application.


executable
a program that can be processed or executed by the computer without any further translation; a file that has execute permission, such as an a.out file, or a shell script.


FALSE
a value to which a Boolean descriptor can evaluate. FALSE must be the word "false," irrespective of case, or a non-zero return code.


FMLI application
an application developed using the Form and Menu Language Interpreter (FMLI) to provide and maintain a user interface relying only on ASCII characters. An FMLI application can provide access to other applications.


form
a visual element of an FMLI application displayed in a frame. A form is made up of fields that allow a user to provide input to the application.


form field
an area of a form consisting of a field label and a field input area into which a user can enter input.


frame
an independently-scrollable, bordered region of the screen, used to display FMLI forms, menus, and text. A frame includes a title bar, frame border, contents, and—for frames containing more that three lines—a scroll box.


frame definition file
an ASCII file in which the contents, appearance, functionality, and placement of a menu, form, or text frame are defined using the Form and Menu Language.


frame ID number
a number assigned by FMLI to a frame when it is opened. A frame ID number appears at the left in the title bar of a frame. The frame ID number allows users to navigate among frames by number.


hard key
a physical key on a computer's keyboard, such as the key labeled with the letter "C." In this document, for example, the "C" key is illustrated as C.


icon
a symbol used to indicate a function available in the FMLI application. For example, the caret (^) is an icon displayed in a frame's border to indicate the contents can be scrolled upwards.


initial frame
the frame, or frames, names as arguments when the fmli command is invoked. Initial frames are displayed automatically when an FMLI application is started, and remain on display in the work area until the FMLI session is terminated.


initialization file
a script in which an FMLI developer can define global attributes of an application using the Form and Menu Language. Such things as a transient introductory frame, a customized banner line, colors for various display elements, and restrictions on user access to the UNIX system can be defines. An initialization file is optional, but if one is written it must be named as an argument when fmli is invoked.


interpreter
a program that allows you to communicate with the operating system. It reads the commands you enter and interprets them as requests to execute other programs, access files, or provide output.


interrupt
a signal to stop the execution of a process. From the keyboard, interrupts are usually initiated by pressing the DELETE or BREAK key. stty(1) will report the interrupt key for you session as intr. In FMLI, the ability of users to interrupt a process defined in an action or done descriptor can be enabled or disabled through the use of the interrupt descriptor.


menu frame
a screen display showing a number or choices from which a user can make a selection(s), and which invokes some action when a selection is made.


message line
the third line from the bottom of the screen in FMLI applications, used to display one-line messages and instructions to the user.


multi-select menu
a menu which allows the user to mark one or more items and then select all marked items.


named key
a keyboard key which has a name indicating the function it performs. For example, TAB, DELETE, or ENTER.


non-current
a frame, or other element on display which is not the element in which the cursor is currently positioned.


post
the FMLI activity of reading and interpreting a frame definition file, displaying the frame described therein, and making the frame current.


process
an instance of a program being executed. In the UNIX System, it incorporates the concept of an execution environment, including contents of memory, register values, name of the current directory, status of files, and various other information.


program
a set of instructions and data kept in an ordinary file.


screen-labeled keys
the eight function keys, F1 through F8, found on many keyboards, to which the labels displayed on the last line of the screen in FMLI applications correspond. The screen-labels indicate the operations assigned to the function keys.


script
a file which contains the definition of a frame (a frame definition file), the definition of global attributes of an FMLI application (an initialization file), the definitions of application specific commands (a commands file), a list of aliases for pathnames (an alias file), or UNIX system shell commands.


scroll indicators
symbols contained in the scroll box of FMLI frames, to indicate that additional material is available above or below the current frame borders. The up symbol is a caret (^) or up-arrow character, and the down indicator is a v or a down-arrow character.


scrolling
an attribute of FMLI frames which allows a fixed-size frame to accommodate a larger amount of information than can be displayed in it at one time. The first frameful of information is displayed when the frame is opened, and users can press named keys or their alternate keystrokes to move forward to a new frameful of information, or to move back to a previous frameful.


single-select menu
a menu from which a user can select only one item at a time.


SLK
See screen-labeled keys.


terminal attributes
characteristics of the video screen which can be manipulated by an FMLI application developer to provide visual cues to the application's functionality. They include underlining, half-bright, bright, and blinking display of characters, an alternate character set for line drawing, and others.


text frame
a visual element of an FMLI application displayed in a frame. A text frame displays lines of text; for example, help on how to fill in a form field.


TRUE
a value to which a Boolean descriptor can evaluate. Any value other than those defined for FALSE is interpreted as TRUE.


utility
a software tool of general programming usefulness built-in to FMLI, such as fmlgrep or message, which can be used inside backquoted expressions, and which is executed when the backquoted expression is evaluated. A built-in utility has a performance advantage over a UNIX shell utility in that it does not fork a new process.


white space
one or more space, tab, and/or newline characters. White space is normally used to separate strings of characters, and is required to separate a command from its arguments when it is invoked.


work area
in FMLI applications, the area of the screen running from the second line from the top to the fourth line from the bottom. The work area is used to display menus, forms, and text frames.


word wrapping
an attribute of text frames which prevents words from being split across two lines when the text frame is displayed. Word wrapping can be turned on or off by the developer in the text frame definition file.


wrapping
an attribute of frames which allows a user to navigate through a list of menu items or from fields as if it were a circular list. Forward or backward navigation keys always cause movement to the next logical item or field. The next logical item or field may differ according to the navigation key being used (see the table in Appendix B for complete details).


zombie
a process that has executed the exit system call and no longer exits, but which leaves a record containing an exit code and some timing statistics for its parent to collect. The zombie state is the final state of a process.

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