Example of HELPMENU File Creation

Assume you want to add HELP files concerning your internal system (System 5) procedures to the HELP Facility. You would follow the procedure outlined below.

  1. Choose the component name of SYS5 (System 5).
  2. Create the HELP files for these procedures.
  3. Following the rules given in Creating Menus for HELP Files, give each procedure file a file name and file type. Thus, the file containing the information about CLASS8 (a class identifying the type of printing desired) would be named CLASS8 HELPSYS5.
  4. Create a new file and give it a file name of SYS5 and a file type of HELPMENU. This file will be your menu.
  5. In the first few lines of the menu, type in any descriptive information you wish to appear when the menu is displayed. Skip two lines after this information and list the names of all the files you want to access from the menu.
When viewed by using an editor like XEDIT, your HELPMENU file should look similar to the example in Figure 1.
Figure 1. Sample of HELPMENU File Creation
To display a file, place the cursor under any character 
of the file wanted and pressing the Enter key or the PF1 key.
 
 
CLASS8
CLASS7
CLASS0
CLASSC
MOUNT
DEMOUNT

When you specify HELP SYS5 MENU, the HELP facility orders and stacks in columns the file names. See Figure 2. You can then choose menu choices from this menu as you would with any other HELPMENU file.

Figure 2. Sample HELPMENU File Displayed by the HELP Facility
 SYS5 MENU                  Menu Help Information                   line 1 of 5 
 To display a file, place the cursor under any character                        
 of the file wanted and pressing the Enter key or the PF1 key.                  
                                                                                
                                                                                
 CLASSC    CLASS0    CLASS7    CLASS8    DEMOUNT   MOUNT                        
* * * End of File * * *