Understand FOCUS command syntax and the types of graphs you can create
Use graphing verbs and sort clauses to create graphs
Set parameters to affect the appearance and function of graphs
Create bar charts, using parameters that affect the appearance and control the horizontal axis
Create multiple bar charts
Create single variable histograms and multiple variable histograms

Topics

Conventions and Graph Types
Graph Requirements
Setting Graph Parameters
Bar Charts
Bar Chart Parameters
Histograms

8. Advanced Graph Topics

Time: 2 hours

This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms.

Objectives

Recognize FOCUS graph types
Control the format of graphs
Specify the parameters of graphs
Control the format of scatter diagrams
Specify the parameters of scatter diagrams
Using tuning techniques to adjust graphs
Apply special formats to graphs
Display graphs on alternate devices

Topics

Conventions and Graph Types
Connected Point Plots
Scatter Diagrams
Adjusting Graphs
Display Options

9. Data Manipulation for Reporting

Time: 3 hours

This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms.

Objectives

Use expressions
Use prefix operators
Create new fields
Use the DEFINE command
Specify the parameters of scatter diagrams
Explain the differences between COMPUTE and DEFINE

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
Expressions
Prefix Operators
The COMPUTE Command
The DEFINE Command
Comparing COMPARE and DEFINE

10. Advanced Screening Techniques

Time: 3 hours

This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms.

Objectives

Use the DECODE function to make reports easy to read
Apply the EDIT function to manipulate fields
Use INCLUDES and EXCLUDES for character string screening
Use masks to retrieve specific information
Use sum of value tests with statements to determine the amount and type of information screened
Use compound logic to retrieve specific information
Store lists of screening values as text files

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
DECODE and EDIT
INCLUDES and EXCLUDES
Screening on Masked Fields
Screening Accumulated Data
Additional Screening Procedures

11. Creating File Definitions

Time: 2 hours

This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms.

Objectives

Discuss file declarations
Define Master File Descriptions and their purposes
Explain the three types of declarations that make up an MFD
List rules for coding MFDs
Discuss rules for coding FOCUS commands
Define segment declaration
Explain the SEGNAME attribute
Discuss the PARENT attribute
Identify the SEGTYPE attribute
Discuss the FORMAT attribute
Explain how to specify field length

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
Describing the File
Describing Segments
Field Declaration

12. Adjusting File Definitions

Time: 3 hours

This course shows users how to adjust file definitions in FOCUS.

Objectives

Distinguish between the various segments used to track information in a database
Create special temporary fields in your files and know how to name a file, including the suffix attribute
Identify the various types of FORMAT values
Assign TITLE, DESCRIPTION, ACCEPT and other attributes
Use the CHECK command

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
Field Attributes
Editing Options
Additional Ways to Describe Fields
Creating an MFD

13. Accessing External Files

Time: 2 hours

This course shows users how to describe external files to FOCUS.

Objectives

Create a Master File Description for general categories of external files
Describe the structure of simple sequential files and multiple record type files
Distinguish between the MFDs for ISAM and VSAM interfaces
Code FOCUS MFD for the DB2 and SQL/DS interfaces
Code Access File Description to access SQL tables from FOCUS

Topics

Defining External Files
Fixed Format Files
Variable Segment Files
Other DBMS Files
Optional Interfaces

14. Basic MODIFY Requests

Time: 3 hours

This course provides an overview of the basic MODIFY requests in FOCUS.

Objectives

Add, update and delete information in a database using the MODIFY process
Enter a MODIFY request and explain the results
Create a FIXFORM statement to read transaction data stored on a file
Create the PROMPT statement to read transaction data

Topics

What is MODIFY?
Entering a Basic MODIFY Request
Reading and Describing Data
FREEFORM
PROMPT and CRTFORM

15. Segment Modification

Time: 2 hours

This course provides further instruction in maintaining and understanding files and databases in FOCUS.

Objectives

Test values
Test incoming transaction values
Test for existing incoming values
Compare incoming transaction values
Understand computations and the COMPUTE statement
Change incoming transaction values
Compute new values
Define incoming data fields
Understand course conventions in FOCUS
Recognize and understand three course databases

Topics

The MATCH Statement
Root Segments
Updating Segment Instances
Deleting Segment Instances
Modifying Unique Segments
Modifying Descendent Segments

16. Complex MODIFY Requests

Time: 2 hours

This course provides an overview of the use of FOCUS and how to use it to perform complex MODIFY Requests.

Objectives

Understand course conventions in FOCUS
Recognize and understand three course databases
Compute new values
Define incoming data fields
Test incoming transaction values
Test for existing incoming values

Topics

Course Conventions
Course Databases
The COMPUTE Statement
The VALIDATE Statement

17. Additional File Maintenance

Time: 3 hours

This course provides further instruction in maintaining and understanding files and databases in FOCUS.

Objectives

Explain course databases
Code TYPE statements
Use a LOG statement
Use rejected transactions
Use the CASE statement
Manage branching with GOTO, PERFORM, and IF statements
Design an application

Topics

Course Databases
Messages
The LOG Statement
Case Logic
Branching
Designing a Sample Application

18. Dialogue Manager and FIDEL

Time: 3 hours

This course provides an advanced look at the Dialogue Manager and FIDEL features found in FOCUS.

Objectives

Explain Dialogue Manager and FIDEL
Understand the two database systems that are used for examples and exercises
Use the Dialogue Manager to insert control statements in a FOCEXEC
Identify three types of fields on a FIDEL screen

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
Dialogue Manager
Control Statements
FIDEL
PF Keys
Cursor Control

19. More Features of FIDEL

Time: 3 hours

This course provides an overview of the additional features of FIDEL and how FIDEL is used with MODIFY and Dialogue Manager.

Objectives

Use automatic CRTFORMs for database maintenance
Use case logic in FIDEL
Read multiple occurrences of fields with a single CRTFORM
Create a menu-driven application using Dialogue Manager

Topics

Course Conventions and Databases
FIDEL in MODIFY
Additional FIDEL Features
FIDEL and CRTFORMs
FIDEL in Dialogue Manager

20. MAINTAIN Facility

Time: 2 hours

This course explains how to use the FOCUS MAINTAIN facility to maintain FOCUS files.

Objectives

Explain how MAINTAIN is used for database maintenance
Identify MAINTAIN language standards and concepts
Design a fully functional MAINTAIN procedure that performs maintenance functions for a database
Prepare a MAINTAIN procedure to include a grid so that multiple rows of data can be updated at once
Identify additional commands that are useful when developing MAINTAIN procedures