Creating a Rich Display File™

Owned by Brian May
Last updated: Sep 13, 2023 by Jessica Tomkins
2 min read

 

To create a simple Hello World display file, follow these steps:

  1. Start the designer

  2. Create the Hello World Label

    1. Drag a label widget onto the canvas

    2. Double-click the label

    3. Type “Hello World”

    4. Use the inline editing toolbar to center the content within the label widget

  3. Create a button to exit the application

    1. Drag a button onto the canvas

    2. Double-click the button and type “Exit”

    3. Find the button’s response property in the Properties Window. Click the bind button. In the binding dialog, type “btnExit” for the field name.




      This step is important.  It tells the application to send a response to the server when the button is clicked, and to set on an indicator so that the application’s code can determine which button is being used.

      Note: In this example, we used a named indicator.  You may also use a traditional RPG indicator, such as a *IN01.  Named indicators are declared as length 1 alpha fields in the display file.

  4. Click the canvas to select screen properties.  Set the following properties:

    1. record format name: HELLO

    2. description: Hello World Record Format

    3. document title: Hello World

  5. Save your work to a source member

    1. Select the Save button from the ribbon.  The Save As Dialog will appear:

       

    2. Type in a source file and library name.  It is best to use a development library of your own.  If you don’t have a library to use, you may create a separate library for Profound UI applications (using command CRTLIB), along with a source file for DDS source (using command CRTSRCPF).  Alternatively, you may use the PUISAMPLES library, which ships with the product.

    3. Type “HELLOWORLD” for member name.

    4. Type “Hello World Rich Display File™” for text.

    5. Click Save

      Note: Your work is saved as standard DDS source.

  6. Compile the display file source to create the rich display file™

    1. Click the Compile… button on the ribbon.  The Create Rich Display File™ Dialog will appear:


    2. Click the Compile button.

      Note: Rich display files™ can also be compiled from the command line, using the CRTDSPF command, or option 14 in PDM.

 

Video Tutorial