11 Creating and Using Constant Data

Applies the Constant Data record that you have set as your Default.

Note: If you have not designated a constant data record as your Default, this choice does not appear in the Edit list.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < D >.

In the Constant Data Manager dialog box, click Name Authority or Subject Authority in the Constant Data Workform list.

Result: Name Authority or Subject Authority appears in the box.

Click Create.

In the Constant Data Name dialog box, enter a descriptive name for the new constant data record (8 characters maximum).

Note: The name must be unique within the current constant data file.

Click OK.

Result: CatME displays a workform for the format you selected.

Edit fixed-length and/or variable fields in the workform to add the reusable information you want to include.

As you edit:

• The SOMs (Start-of-Message characters) preceding fields you change are replaced with open SOMs .
• CatME automatically adds an SOM when you press < Enter > unless you turn this option off in Tools/Options/General tab (a change does not take effect until you open another record).

Save the constant data record:

• On the Action menu click Save in Local File.
  
  Or

• Click on the toolbar.
  
  Or

• Press < Alt >< A > then press < S >.

Result: CatME saves the record, deletes unused variable fields and redisplays the record.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < D >.

In the Constant Data Manager dialog box, in the Constant Data Name list, click the name of the constant data record you want to edit, then click Edit.

Result: The record is displayed for editing.

Edit fixed-length and/or variable fields in the record to add the reusable information you want to include.

As you edit:

• The SOMs (Start-of-Message characters) preceding fields you change are replaced with open SOMs .
• CatME automatically adds an SOM when you press < Enter > unless you turn this option off in Tools/Options/General tab (a change does not take effect until you open another record).

Save the constant data record:

• On the Action menu click Save in Local File.
  
  Or

• Click on the toolbar.
  
  Or

• Press < Alt >< A > then press < S >.

Result: CatME saves and redisplays the constant data record.

Click the Close icon ( X ) in the title bar.

Or

Press < Ctrl >< F4 >.

In the confirmation window, click No.

Result: The constant data record's window closes and no new record is created or your changes to an existing record are not saved.

Display an authority record or workform.

Or

Display an authority local file truncated list and select the records to which you want to apply a constant data record. Click and drag to highlight adjacent entries or press < Ctrl > and click to highlight single entries.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < D >.

In the Constant Data Manager dialog box, in the Constant Data Name list, click the name of the constant data record you want to apply.

Click Apply.

Result: CatME inserts the constant data into the record in the active window or into records or workforms selected on a list, then closes the Constant Data Manager dialog box.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < D >.

In the list of Constant Data Names in the Constant Data Manager dialog box, click the name of the record you want to set as the default.

Click Set as Default.

Result: A red check mark appears to the left of the record name.

Display an authority record or workform.

Or

Display an authority local file truncated list and select the records to which you want to apply a constant data record. Click and drag to highlight adjacent entries or press < Ctrl > and click to highlight single entries.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < S >.

Result: CatME applies the default constant data with the setting you last used for Fixed, Variable, or both.

On the Edit menu click Constant Data Manager.

Or

Press < Alt >< E > then press < D >.

In the Constant Data Manager dialog box, in the Constant Data Name list, click the name of the constant data record you want to delete.

Click Delete.

When asked to confirm the action, click Yes.

Result: CatME removes the record from the constant data file and removes its name from the Constant Data Name list.

Note:

• If the record you want to delete is not in the Constant Data Name list, it may be stored in a different constant data file. To check another file, click File and select a constant data file.

• You cannot delete the constant data record marked as the default. If the default constant data record is highlighted, the Delete button is inactive (grayed-out).

  To delete the default constant data record, mark another record as the default. Then delete the former default record.

At the Home position, enter either:

• cd wfan [recordname] [ name constant data record]
  
  Or
• cd wfas [recordname] [ subject constant data record]

Note: A record name can contain 8 characters maximum.

Result: The system displays a Constant Data workform for editing.

You may add new variable fields or modify any field in the record except for fixed field elements:

• Entered (defaults to the current date)
• Replaced (defaults to the current date)
• Type (defaults to z for authority record)

Press < F10 > to send your edits to the system. See section 9.4, "Passport Authority Records," for additional information on editing Passport authority records.

Caution: The Validate a record action is not available for a constant data record. It is your responsibility to choose field values compatible with the anticipated use of the record.

When you have completed your modifications, at the Home position enter rf < F11 >.

Result: The record is redisplayed with all variable fields displayed in ascending order and all empty fields removed.

Display the existing constant data record from which you want to create the new constant data record:

• If you know the name of the record, at the home position enter ecd [recordname] and press < F11 >

• If you do not know the name of the record, at the Home position:

  1. Enter: cdi< F11 > to display the Constant Data Information list.
  2. Enter the line number of the record you want to use and press < F11 >.

Place the cursor over the existing name, enter a new name, and press < F11 >.

Result: The message line displays: Fixed field edited.

You may add new variable fields or modify any field in the record except for fixed field elements:

• Entered (defaults to the current date)
• Replaced (defaults to the current date)
• Enter (defaults to z for authority record)

Press < F10 > to send your edits to the system. See section 9.4, "Passport Authority Records," for additional information on editing Passport authority records.

Caution: The Validate a record action is not available for a constant data record. It is your responsibility to choose field values compatible with the anticipated use of the record.

When you have completed your modifications, at the Home position enter rf < F11 >.

Result: The record is redisplayed with all variable fields displayed in ascending order and all empty fields removed.

To save the record, at the Home position enter s < F11 >.

Result: The message line displays: Constant Data Record saved.

Highlight the existing name, then enter the revised name and press < F10 >.

Result: The message line displays: Fixed field edited.

At the Home position, enter s < F11 >.

Result: The message line displays: Constant Data Record saved.

Display the constant data record that you want to edit:

• If you know the name of the record, at the home position enter ecd [recordname]  < F11 >

• If you do not know the name of the record, at the Home position:

  1. Enter: cdi < F11 > to display the Constant Data Information list.
  2. Enter the line number of the record you want to use and press < F11 >.

You may add new variable fields or modify any field in the record except for fixed field elements:

• Entered (defaults to the current date)
• Replaced (defaults to the current date)
• Enter (defaults to z for authority record)

Press < F10 > to send your edits to the system. See section 11.4, "Constant Data in Passport," for additional information on editing Passport authority records.

Caution: The Validate a record action is not available for a constant data record. It is your responsibility to choose field values compatible with the anticipated use of the record.

When you have completed your modifications, at the Home position enter rf < F11 >.

Result: The record is redisplayed with all variable fields displayed in ascending order and all empty fields removed.

To save the record, at the Home position enter s < F11 >.

Result: The message line displays: Constant Data Record saved.

At the Home position, enter ret and press < F11 >.

Result: The system displays the modified record prompt.

Position the cursor within the Remove prompt and press < F10 >.

Result: The screen becomes blank and the changes to the constant data record are cancelled.

At the Home position:

where [recordname]  is the name of the constant data record that you are applying.

Result: The system transfers the constant data to the record.

Display the constant data record that you want to delete:

• If you know the name of the record, at the Home position enter ecd [recordname]  < F11 >.

• If you do not know the name of the record, at the Home position:

  1. Enter: cdi < F11 > to display the Constant Data Information list.
  2. Enter the line number of the record you want to delete and press < F11 >.

At the Home position, enter del < F11 >.

Result: The screen becomes blank except for the message line which displays: Constant Data record deleted.