NOMADS AutoChart 

AutoChart Definition File Maintenance

 

The NOMADS AutoChart feature allows the user to quickly define simple charts based on the columns of a List Box, Grid or Query, to save the definitions, and to display the charts from the right-click popup menu or Query+ interface. See Defining and Displaying an AutoChart.

These definitions are stored in Chart Definition files that are found in the same directories as the panel libraries containing the panels and queries on which the charts are based. Public chart definitions created by the developer using a Query Definition are stored in chart.dev files, and end-user definitions are stored in chart.inf files.

The AutoChart Definition File Maintenance utility provides a means to manually remove or copy entries in the Chart Definition files. Public definitions can be copied from end-user files to developer files and vice versa. End-user entries can be copied to another user ID. Entries belonging to a defunct user ID can be deleted.

(The ability to separate developer and end-user Auto Chart definitions was added in PxPlus 2020.)

Invoking AutoChart Definition File Maintenance

AutoChart Definition File Maintenance can be invoked either from the NOMADS Session Manager Utilities menu or from the Utilities menu in NOMADS Library Object Selection. The difference is that the starting point for locating the Chart Definition files will be your current directory when invoked from the main NOMADS Utilities menu or the directory of the selected library when invoked from Library Object Selection.

The utility can also be invoked programmatically. See Invoking AutoChart Definition File Maintenance Programmatically.

When invoked, AutoChart Definition File Maintenance is displayed:

This window consists of the following:

Starting Directory

This is the starting point for locating the Chart Definition files and their AutoChart entries. (Enter the top directory of your application to see all entries pertaining to it.)

All entries found in the starting and subordinate directories will be displayed in the chart list.

Chart file

Select the Chart Definition to display:

Developer definitions (chart.dev)

Public chart definitions created by the developer using a Query Definition, which are stored in chart.dev files.

End-User definitions (chart.inf)

End-user definitions, which are stored in chart.inf files.

(The Chart file drop box was added in PxPlus 2020.)

Profile entry list

Entries include the library location (relative to the starting directory), the name of the panel or query and control on which the chart is based, as well as the name of the user who owns the chart and the chart name.

Select/Deselect all

Check this box to select all current entries in the chart list. Uncheck it to deselect all entries.

Selecting miscellaneous profile entries

Select and deselect individual chart entries by clicking the check box next to the entry within the list. You can also select ranges of entries by clicking the first entry, then pressing Shift - Click on the last entry. If you are navigating the list using the arrow keys, select entries using the <Enter> key.

Filter by:
    
Directory
     Library
     Panel/Query
     User

A number of fields are available to filter the entries that are shown in the chart list. Selections include Directory, which allows you to specify a subdirectory under the starting directory.

You can also select a specific panel Library, Panel or Query definition, and/or User ID to filter the profile list. (The User ID filter does not apply to the developer definitions, which are public.)

Function

Select the function to perform:

Copy to end-user/developer file

Copy public items to the end-user or developer file, depending on the current Chart file being displayed.

Copy to another user

(Not available when Developer definitions file is selected from Chart file drop box)

Copies the selected charts to another user. You must specify the user either by entering the User ID or by selecting one from the drop box. If duplicate entries for that user exist, you can select the Overwrite duplicates check box if you want to overwrite the existing entries for the user; otherwise, the existing entries will not be changed.

Delete

Deletes the selected chart entries.

(The Copy to end-user/developer file function was added in PxPlus 2020.)

Invoking AutoChart Definition File Maintenance Programmatically

Besides invoking AutoChart Definition File Maintenance through NOMADS, you can also invoke it programmatically using the following syntax:

process "CHARTINFMNT","*plus/winutl/scrnlib.en"[,UserID$, LibPath$, Panel$]

Where:

 

UserID$

User ID on which to filter. Denote Public charts by setting the User ID to "*"

LibPath$

Path to panel library to use as filter

Panel$

Specific panel name or query definition to use as filter