ERASEINP (Erase Input) keyword for display files

You use this record-level keyword with the OVERLAY keyword to erase unprotected input-capable fields already on the display. Unprotected input-capable fields are fields for which the DSPATR(PR) keyword is not in effect.

The fields are erased before the record format you are defining is displayed. Input-capable fields in the record format you are defining are not erased.

See the Application Display Programming book Link to PDF for information about how to use ERASEINP in files that are used in the System/36 environment.

The format of the keyword is:

ERASEINP[(*MDTON | *ALL)]

To erase all input-capable fields already on the display, specify the *ALL parameter. To erase only input-capable fields that have their changed data tags (MDTs) set on, specify the *MDTON parameter. Specifying ERASEINP(*MDTON) or ERASEINP has the same effect as pressing the Erase Input key.

The OVERLAY keyword must be specified whenever ERASEINP is specified.

When the MDTOFF keyword is specified on the same record format as ERASEINP, two conditions can occur:

ERASEINP(*ALL) implies MDTOFF(*UNPR), unless the MDTOFF(*ALL) keyword is specified.
If the ERASEINP or ERASEINP(*MDTON) is specified with MDTOFF(*ALL), the end effect is as if ERASEINP(*ALL) and MDTOFF(*ALL) are both specified.

If the ERASEINP and PROTECT keywords are both in effect for an output operation, the IBM® i operating system first erases the input-capable fields specified on the ERASEINP parameter value, and then protects all input-capable fields on the display from input typing.

ERASEINP reduces line traffic because record formats already displayed can be reused and do not need to be sent to the display again.

A warning message appears at file creation time if the ERASEINP keyword is specified in a record with the DSPMOD keyword. At run time, the ERASEINP keyword is ignored when the display mode changes.

Option indicators are valid for this keyword.

Example

The following example shows how to specify the ERASEINP keyword.

|...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7....+....8
00010A*
00020A*
00030A*
00040A          R RECORD1                   OVERLAY
00050A              :                       ERASEINP
00060A              :
00070A              :
00080A*           (All changed input-capable fields on the screen are erased)
00090A              :
00100A              :
00110A              :
00120A          R RECORD2                   OVERLAY
00130A              :                       ERASEINP(*ALL)
00140A              :
00150A              :
00160A*           (All unprotected input-capable fields on the screen are erased
00170A*             whether changed or not)
00180A
00190A
00200A          R RECORD3                   OVERLAY
00210A  32                                  ERASEINP(*MDTON)
00220A N32                                  ERASEINP(*ALL)
00230A            FIELD1         5   I      DSPATR(PR)
00240A              :
00250A              :
00260A              :
00270A*           (FIELD1 is never erased)
     A