>We've got an HP3000 running MPE V that we use for some testing.  I've got
>to compile a form in Formspec, but don't have any documentation on
>how to do so.
 
>I've been able to create the form, but when I try to compile it, I >get
asked not only for the form name, but for a batch file name.  >From what I
understand, the batch file holds the data for the form, >but
>I don't know what format the batch file is supposed to be in.
 
>Can I create it using my editor?  Is it supposed to be delimited in a
>certain way?
 
>Any information via email to [log in to unmask] would be greatly appreciated.
 
Karl!
 
If you were able to create the form using 'Formspec' then in order to compile
it all you need to do is to place an 'X' in the selection box of "Formspec's"
main menu and optionally specify the name of the 'fast form' file in the
proper box on the same menu.
 
Since you say that you are being prompted for a batch file name that tells me
that you must be using 'Entry.pub.sys' to access the form.  Forms created in
'Formspec' can be designed in such a way, by using the proper processing
specifications, that they can be used in 'Entry' to perform simple data
collection.  The entered data are written by 'Entry' to a "batch" file which
can then be further processed by another, usually user designed, program and
perhaps loaded into a database or reported upon or etc.
 
The "batch" file will be created, if it does not exist, by 'Entry' and it
will have a record size large enough to hold the maximum number of characters
found in your largest, in terms of entered data, form.  If the "batch" file
already exists you will get a warning indicating that the existing "batch"
file was created under a different version of the form file (or something
like that).  In the worst case if the change that you made resulted in the
need of the "batch" file to be created with a different record size then you
will have some problems in merging new data with existing data.  BTW the
"batch" file record also contains some additional data having to do with
which form the record came from, and some additional flags.
 
I hope this helps some.   I'm quite familiar with the 'Formspec' product and
if you need some more help give me a call.
 
Regards
 
Paul H. Christidis
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