- 1
- Comments (optional): Comments can appear on any line in DDS. They are identified by an asterisk in position 7.
- 2
- File level (optional): File-level keywords appear before the first record format name (RECORDA on line 00040).
- 3
- Record level (at least one required): R in position 17 identifies RECORDA as a record format name. The record level continues until either the first field is specified or the first help specification.
- 4
- Help level (optional): H in position 17 identifies the beginning of a help specification. A help specification continues until the next H in position 17 or until the first field. Each help specification must include at least one HLPARA keyword, and a HLPRCD or HLPDOC keyword.
- 5
- Field level (optional): Display file fields that are passed between the display device and the program must be named fields and must have a length specified. Other attributes can be specified explicitly or by default. Constant (unnamed) fields require only a location and a keyword, as described in DATE, DFT, TIME, and MSGCON keyword descriptions in DDS keyword entries for display files (position 45 through 80). Positions 17 through 38 do not apply to constant fields.
Notes:
- Items 3 through 5 can be repeated to specify new record formats within the display file.
- See the Positional entries for display files topic for a description of each of the columns shown in the figure.