Text stored in database files

Text can be stored externally from the source code in a database file, retrieved by the application program, and then moved to the display or print format at run time.

Instead of coding constants on the DDS, you can specify output fields that can be filled by the program. Consider specifying the appropriate length for different languages on the output fields and making that available to the translator.

This technique can be used for:

Display files

All constant text
Default values on input fields
Error messages

Printer files

All constant text

Programs

All constants like compare values, scan characters, and tables.

This technique allows you to create any number of database files in different languages and different libraries, with only one DDS source code and display file object. During run time, you assign the corresponding database file by setting the library list accordingly.