Assigning messages

Some of the DTL tags have an optional MSG attribute that you use to specify a message-identifier. The message text associated with the message-identifier specified is displayed when conditions you define for the tag are not met by the user.

This list contains the DTL tags that have MSG attributes associated with them, and describes the conditions for each.

CHECKL

Use the MSG attribute of the CHECKL tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user's input fails the validation check defined for the check list.

CHOFLD

Use the MSG attribute of the CHOFLD tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user does not provide input for a required field. You can only assign a message to a data field when the REQUIRED attribute has a value of YES.

DTAFLD

Use the MSG attribute of the DTAFLD tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user does not provide input for a required field. You can only assign a message to a data field when the REQUIRED attribute has a value of YES.

LSTCOL

Use the MSG attribute of the LSTCOL tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user does not provide input for a required entry. You can only assign a message to a list column when the REQUIRED attribute has a value of YES.

SELFLD

Use the MSG attribute of the SELFLD tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user does not provide input for a required single-choice selection field. You can only assign a message to a selection field when the REQUIRED attribute has a value of YES.

Use the SELMSG attribute of the SELFLD tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user selects an invalid choice.

Use the SELMSGU attribute of the SELFLD tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user selects an unavailable choice.

VARCLASS

Use the MSG attribute of the VARCLASS tag to specify a message ISPF displays when the user's input fails the validity check defined by the VARCLASS TYPE attribute.

Note: The message specified by the MSG attribute of a VARCLASS tag is also used if enclosed checks (CHECKL tag) or translations (XLATL tag) do not include the MSG attribute.

XLATL

Use the MSG attribute of the XLATL tag to specify a message that ISPF displays when the user's input fails a specified translation.

ISPF displays a default message for most of the situations listed above if you do not specify the MSG attribute.

To show you how messages are associated with DTL tags, here is an example that defines a data field that requires input from the user. It also defines a message member that contains the warning message ISPF displays if the user does not provide input for the field. Figure 1 shows the displayed panel and message.

<!doctype dm system>

<varclass name=namecls type='char 30'>

<varlist>
  <vardcl name=name varclass=namecls>
</varlist>

<msgmbr name=ordb00>
  <msg suffix=0 msgtype=warning>You must type your name in the Name field.
</msgmbr>

<panel name=msgxmp1>Application Panel
 <dtafld datavar=name pmtwidth=12 required=yes msg=ordb000>Name
<cmdarea>
</panel>

Figure 1. Data field and message

                             Application Panel
 
 Name . . . . ______________________________
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 You must type your name in the Name field.
 Command ===> ____________________________________________________________