DTL provides you with the TOPINST, PNLINST, and BOTINST tags to define instructions for your application panels. None of the tags have required end tags associated with them.

Use the instruction tags to provide text that tells the user how to interact with the panel or how to continue with an application.

If the COMPACT attribute is not specified, a blank line is added to the panel after each TOPINST tag and before each PNLINST or BOTINST tag.

You must code the top and bottom instruction tags outside of the portion of the panel defined with the AREA tag and its matching end tag. (The AREA tag explains how to use the AREA tag). Code the TOPINST tag immediately after the action bar definition (or the PANEL start tag if the panel does not contain an action bar). Code the BOTINST following the main body of the panel, before the PANEL end tag. You may code PNLINST tags within the AREA tag.

<!doctype dm system>
<panel name=mainpan5>Item Selection
  <topinst>Select one of the following items and press Enter.
    <selfld name=itemtyp selwidth=76>
      <choice>Automotive
      <choice>Hardware
      <choice>Health and beauty
      <choice>Lawn and garden
      <choice>Sporting goods
    </selfld>
  <botinst>To exit the application, press F3.
</panel>

                               Item Selection

 Select one of the following items and press Enter.

 __  1.  Automotive
     2.  Hardware
     3.  Health and beauty
     4.  Lawn and garden
     5.  Sporting goods

 To exit the application, press F3.