Exercise 3.6: Prompting language specifications

Before you begin, you must complete Exercise 3.5: Invoking language-sensitive help.

Instead of entering or changing code directly in the Editor window, you can use prompts. When you request a prompt for a specification line, a window appears where you can enter or change that line using entry fields.

Accessing language prompts

To access prompts:

  1. Return to the workbench. In the Editor window move your cursor to the D-spec on line 33.
  2. Press F4 (You can also click Source from the workbench menu and then click Prompt.)

    You see the iSeries Source Prompter at the bottom of the workbench. The iSeries Source Prompter shows the specification line broken down into its individual fields.
    Prompt window
    On the iSeries Source Prompter toolbar you can use the three push buttons to: Disable source prompt view, Disable syntax checking, and Change to insert mode.

Displaying context sensitive help

To display context sensitive help for any field in the iSeries Source Prompter:

  1. Tab to the Keywords field.
  2. Press F1 to see help for this field.

    The Help window with help for the D spec keywords opens. If it doesn't appear automatically, you might have to bring it to the foreground by clicking on its icon on the Windows taskbar.
    Prompt help

    You will see words in the help that appear in a different color than the regular text. These are help links, and they show that there is additional help available on that word or phrase.

  3. Click on any link to see specific help for that item.
  4. Minimize the Help window.
  5. In the workbench, double-click the PAYROLL tab to return the Editor window to its original size.

You have used prompts to enter code and now are ready to begin Exercise 3.7: Indenting source.