From damian@uk.ac.rl.inf Wed Jul 13 14:18:20 1988
Received: from [000000004103] by abacu.strath.ac.uk; Wed, 13 Jul 88 14:18:14 GMT
Received: from rlvd (vd) by inf.rl.ac.uk; Wed, 13 Jul 88 15:21:32 BST
Date: Wed, 13 Jul 88 15:23:05 bst
From: Damian Mac Randal <damian@uk.ac.rl.inf>
Message-Id: <8807131423.AA17774@rlvd>
To: james@uk.ac.strath.abacu
Subject: forms package
Cc: joe@uk.ac.strath.abacu
Status: R

I want to try out the IFE kb here.  For that I need a copy of the
latest forms package.  I looked on avax, but the one there (20/6)
is the one I have here.  I then looked on the suns, but could only
find the working version in /u/ife/forms/forms3.  Could you place
a copy of the latest (working?) version in the ife/src directory and
mail me when it is there.  Perhaps you could get an /u/ife entry to
simplify my accessing it - I find your file structure organization
almost a hard to follow as ours, ie completely opaque.

Could you also tell me how to do the following.  (Maybe it is my form
package isn't complete or perhaps I'm just being thick)

1/ How do you set a field value while defining a form in the proforma.
   The proforma is 'load'ed by the kb as a subform of the currently
   selected form, so I can't use absolute names.  Eg. 
	new form
		name		build_form
		....
	end form

	new field
		name		location
		.....
	end field
	cf		/location			<- ??????
	set current	glasgow

2/ Are the following command sequences workable?
	chat_user    ->  cf /chat_area/chat_user\n user %s\n\n
		<<seems to work - need ctrl chr that user maps to \n>>
	tell_user    ->  cf %s/%s\n set current %s\n
		<< I can supply current form & field names >>
	focus_user   ->  cf %s\n on\n
	unfocus_user ->  cf %s\n off\n hide\n
		<< on / off not symetrical ( on => un hide) >>
	offer_user   ->  cf %s/%s\n set menu %s\n
		<< what do I put in the string as a separator >>
	new_dialog   ->  cf %s\n load lib/forms/%s\n
		<<seems to work - allows dynamically loaded forms>>
	new_query    ->  cf %s\n %s\n
		<< what do I put here to define a new box >>
	remind       ->  cf %s/%s\n what\n
		<< I want to get the current value from the field >>


BUG-REPORT
LIKE	form/field ids with >8 characters


A template kb entry (or entries) is following in another message.

Joe mentioned that you were having some problems with ww.  If you send
me an e-mail with
1/ a "ls -lR" of your ww source directory
2/ a description of your hardware
3/ as detailed a description of the problem as possible
4/ any suggestions for modifications/improvenents to ww,
	with an indication of what you are trying to do
I will try and get something done about it before I come up on 26th.
I can bring a new tape and re-install ww if necessary.

keep hacking,
Damian

        Damian Mac Randal              Royal Snail:  Informatics Dept,
                                                     Rutherford Appleton Lab,
 JANET:  damian@inf.rl.ac.uk                         Chilton,    Didcot,
  ARPA:  @nss.cs.ucl.ac.uk:damian@inf.rl.ac.uk       Oxon.  OX11 0QX,    U.K.
BITNET:  damian%inf.rl.ac.uk@ukacrl.bitnet     fax:  445808  telx: 83159
  UUCP:  {....!mcvax}!ukc!rlvd!damian        phone:  +44 235 445160

