DOCUMENT #776
     ===========================================================================
     VARIABLE-ONLY FORMS
     ===========================================================================
     PRODUCT:  R:BASE                           VERSION:  4.5+ or Higher       
           
     ===========================================================================
     CATALOG:  Forms, Reports & Labels          AREA   :  Forms
     ===========================================================================
 
     You can think of a form as another way to prompt users to enter data into 
 
     variables. It can be an alternative to the FILLIN and DIALOG commands, 
     particularly if you need to prompt for many different values. Using a form
 
     lets you prompt without programming. Users can move between the fields and
 
     easily change entered values. You don't need to program this ability, it 
     comes with the form.
 
     Using a table form to collect variable values lets you use the standard 
     ENTER and EDIT USING commands to call the form. No special programming is 
 
     needed and you have all of the other form options. Variable forms require 
 
     programming. They do not work with the ENTER and EDIT USING commands but 
     have their own special commands. You cannot access a variable form from 
     the menus. It can only be accessed through a custom program. 
 
     A regular form is associated with a table. It does not need to have any 
     columns located on it, however; you can locate just variables. The easiest
 
     way to make a variable-only form is to create a dummy table in your 
     database. This is a single column table. You want to enter one row of dummy 
     data in the table. 
 
     For example,
 
     CREATE TABLE dummy_tab (dummy_col INTEGER)
 
     LOAD dummy_tab
     L> 1
     L> end
 
     By loading a row of dummy data, you can call your variable-only form with 
 
     the EDIT USING command or the ENTER command. 
 
     Choose to create a custom form, select dummy_tab as the table. Locate the 
 
     desired variables on the form with supporting text as needed. You can use 
 
     expressions, customize field colors etc. Modify the Form settings to 
     select No menus for both adding data and editing data. After the users 
     enter the variables, they simply press Esc to leave the form.
 
     The advantage of creating a table form with only variables located over 
     creating a variable form from the Form Create/modify menu is that you do 
     not need to write a program to use the form. After leaving the 
     variable-only form, the variable values are in memory (global variables) 
     for use by other aspects of your application -- other forms, reports, 
     custom code, etc. 
 
     Combine a variable-only form with other form techniques described in this 
 
     issue, for example, add an actions field to the form. Or the variable-only
 
     form can be called by one of the actions. There are endless possibilities.