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Visual Control

There are a number of commands to enhance the appearance of a screen. The DRAW command draws lines and boxes.

After drawing the box, the cursor is positioned just inside the top left corner of the box.

The TEXT command can be used to place text any where on the screen.

The AT command positions the cursor.

The default screen position for display data on the screen is one line down and in the same column as the previous data. The AT clause can be used on any command that relates to displaying information to position the information according to the coordinates specified.

Positioning can be absolute or the positioning can be relative to the current position. Numbers such as AT 10,15 positions the information at a specific point on the screen (e.g. row 10, column 15). A "+" or a "-" such as (+3,+0) indicates relative movement from the current position (e.g. 3 rows down, in the same column.

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AT

AT [ r ] [, c ]
AT positions the cursor on the screen. This determines where the next element is displayed. The default position is one row down at the same column.

AT specifies row (r) and column (c) for the position. Row and column positions can be specified in either absolute or relative terms. Absolute positions are specified in the form "n" where n is the absolute row or column. AT 1,1 positions the cursor to the upper left corner of the window.

Relative positions can be specified in the form "+n" or "-n" to indicate row and column movement from the previous cursor position.

An asterisk ( * ) indicates the maximum row or column.

AT 5 , 1

AT , 12
AT -1,1
The AT command positions the cursor independently of any screen display command. This may be useful in setting a default display position in the middle of a list of FIELD commands. AT can always be specified as a clause on an individual command.

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DRAW 

DRAW ['c']
   FOR [r][,c]
   FROM [r][,c]
   TO [r][,c]
   CENTER [HORIZONTAL | VERTICAL]
   END symbol
   FILL ['fill_character']
   NOLINES
   START symbol

General Clauses:

AT [r][,c]
VIDEO video_options
DRAW draws lines (both vertical and horizontal) and boxes. After drawing a horizontal line, the cursor is positioned at the row and column position of the first character of the line. After drawing a vertical line, the cursor is positioned one character to the left of the top character of the line. After drawing a box, the cursor is positioned at the top left inner corner of the box.

DRAW 'c'

FOR r,c
FROM r,c
TO r,c
CENTER [HORIZONTAL| VERTICAL]
END | START symbol
FILL
NOLINES

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TEXT

TEXT 'text_string'
     CENTER
     LINESET
     UNDERLINE ['underline_character']

General Clauses:

AT [r][,c]
VIDEO video_options

TEXT specifies a text string which is displayed. Each TEXT command displays the text at the current cursor position and increments the position by the standard single line. The text string to be displayed is the first and only required parameter. This may be followed by any of the specific or general clauses.

For example:

TEXT 'Welcome to the Administration System' at 3,30
TEXT 'Please contact ext. 123 for help' at +2 ,+5

CENTER

LINESET 
    CHARACTER   MEANING
    A      Top left corner
    B      Top right corner
    C      Bottom left corner
    D      Bottom right corner
    E      Top Tee
    F      Bottom Tee
    G      Left Tee
    H      Right Tee
    I      Intersection
    J      Vertical line, thin
    K      Vertical line, thick
    M      Horizontal line, thin
    N      Horizontal line, thick
UNDERLINE 
TEXT  'MAIN MENU'  -
      CENTER AT 2 VIDEO BOLD UNDERLINE '='

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