Outline view

The Outline view displays format and message information for a specific MFS file in a hierarchical presentation.

When you select an item in the Outline view, that item is highlighted in the design canvas and the Source page. The property value information for the item is shown in the Properties view.

The Outline view is displayed by default. You can change the MFS Editor preferences to hide this view.

Navigating the Outline view

The Outline view displays the hierarchy of the MFS format and MFS messages in the file.

For MFS device formats, the top-to-bottom hierarchy that is displayed is: format, device, division, device page, physical page, device fields.

For MFS message definitions, the top-to-bottom hierarchy that is displayed is: message, logical page, segment, and message fields.

You can collapse and expand each of these levels to view or hide the levels below.

Adding device format and message components

When you select a device format or message component in the Outline view, you can add new child components from the right-click menu. For example, if you select a logical page, you can create a segment by selecting New segment from the right-click menu.

You cannot create or remove the top level of the MFS device format hierarchy or the MFS message definition. In the Outline view, these are the format and message components.

Right-click menu and keyboard shortcuts

The following table lists the right-click menu options and the corresponding keyboard combinations:

Table 1. Outline view options
Option	Keyboard shortcut
Undo - Performs an undo of the last action in the design canvas or the Outline view.	Ctrl+Z
Redo - Redoes the last action in the design canvas or Outline view.	Ctrl+Y
Cut - Cuts the selected MFS component. This action modifies the MFS source to remove the MFS component and any child component from the source. The section of source is placed wherever the MFS component is pasted in the Outline view.	Ctrl+X
Copy - Copies the selected MFS component and any child components to the clipboard. This action is equivalent to selecting and copying the MFS component and any child components from the Source page.	Ctrl+C
Paste - Pastes the MFS component and any child components that are copied to the clipboard into the MFS source. The paste action is only active when some MFS component is copied to the clipboard, and a parent component is selected. This action is equivalent to pasting MFS source in the Source page.	Ctrl+V
Delete - Deletes the MFS component and any child components. You cannot delete MFS format or MFS message components because they are the top-level components of the hierarchy.	Delete
Save - Saves the MFS device format file.	Ctrl+S
Print	Ctrl+P
Show Map - Shows the selected physical page in the design canvas. The physical page displays only if it is in the scope of the design canvas. For example, if there is more than one device in the MFS format, then only those physical pages that are part of the device that is in the front have this option.
Hide Map - Hides the selected physical page in the design canvas. The physical page can be hidden only if it is in the scope of the design canvas.
Bring to front - Bring to the front places a particular component that is displayed on top of the design canvas. Bring to the front changes the component on top of the design canvas only if there is more than one of the selected components. The component that is to the front is displayed at the bottom of the outline view.

Important: The Undo and Redo options apply to operations performed in either the Outline view or the design canvas. If you cut a field in the design canvas, for example, the Undo Cut option is enabled in the Outline view right-click menu.