The eLearning Center for Gatlin Education Services

This series is designed for both FOCUS end users and application developers. It covers basic FOCUS concepts and terminology, its file structure, and the Master File Description. It details application developer facilities, and covers using FOCUS with TED, creating reports, graphs, and file definitions, and looks at data manipulation and screening techniques. Additional topics include accessing file definitions, using MODIFY requests, and the Dialogue Manager, FIDEL, and MAINTAIN facilities.

Getting Started
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course provides an introduction to the FOCUS environment and its features and terminology.
Objectives:
* Recognize basic FOCUS concepts and terminology.
* Define the FOCUS file structure.
* Use the Master File Description.
* Create reports and use facilities.
* Use Application Developer facilities.
Topics:
* General Concepts
* File Structures
* Master File Descriptions
* Facilities for End Users
* More Facilities for End Users
* Application Developer Facilities

Working with FOCUS
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course shows users how to work in FOCUS using TED.
Objectives:
* Recognize the general concepts of TED.
* Add and delete material in TED.
* Move and copy in TED.
* Explain introductory material concerning the Terminal Operator Environment.
* Describe the functions of the seven windows in TED.
* Operate WINDOW commands in TED.
Topics:
* General TED Concepts
* TED Commands
* Terminal Operator Environment
* Types of Windows
* WINDOW Commands

Basic Report Preparation
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course is for anyone who is interested in learning about basic report preparation using FOCUS.
Objectives:
* Describe the various course conventions.
* Identify the screens used by the various course databases.
* Use the TABLE command to initiate report requests.
* Use the PRINT and LIST verbs to print the field values in report requests.
* Use the SUM, ADD, WRITE, and COUNT Verbs in report requests.
* Describe the basic sorting process of data.
* Explain the various printing techniques used for creating reports.
* Use the IF statement and WHERE clause to screen records.
* Explain the various uses of the WHERE clause.
Topics:
* Course Conventions and Databases
* Starting a Simple Report
* Printing Values
* Creating Report Requests
* Record Selection

Creating Simple Reports
Time: 4.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course shows users how to use FOCUS to create simple reports.
Objectives:
* Create subheadings and subfootings.
* Use the Hot Screen option in FOCUS.
* Explain line and page options in FOCUS.
* Create headings and footings in FOCUS.
* Use advanced methods to scroll.
* Use search and locate to find repeat forms.
* Save reports in FOCUS.
* Understand course conventions.
* Create course databases.
Topics:
* Course Conventions and Databases
* Line and Page Formatting
* Headings and Footings
* Techniques for Formatting Reports
* FOCUS Hot Screen
* Using the Hot Screen

Creating Complex Reports
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course shows users how to use various techniques to create sophisticated reports with FOCUS.
Objectives:
* Use the rules for coding statements in FOCUS graph requests.
* Describe how to use advanced sorting techniques when creating reports.
* Create headings and footings, including positioning text.
* Rank and summarize numeric data.
* Create totals in your reports and print them.
Topics:
* Course Conventions and Databases
* Advanced Sorting Techniques
* Creating Matrix Reports
* Additional Formatting Options
* Ranking Data
* Subtotaling Operations
* The WHEN Clause

Additional Reporting Techniques
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course explains what you need to know in order to perform additional reporting techniques.
Objectives:
* Identify Alternate File Views and TableF.
* Explain the method of attaching files.
* Distinguish betweeen the Match vs Join commands.
* Describe the method for saving report output.
* Distinguish between the Hold vs Save commands.
Topics:
* Course Conventions and Databases
* The JOIN Command
* The MATCH Command
* HOLD and PCHOLD Files
* SAVE and SAVB Files
* Retrieving Data

Fundamentals of Graphs
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course provides an introduction to graphing concepts and techniques used in FOCUS.
Objectives:
* 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

Advanced Graph Topics
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Data Manipulation for Reporting
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Advanced Screening Techniques
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Creating File Definitions
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Adjusting File Definitions
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Accessing External Files
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Basic MODIFY Requests
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Segment Modification
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Complex MODIFY Requests
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Additional File Maintenance
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

Dialogue Manager and FIDEL
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

More Features of FIDEL
Time: 3.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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

MAINTAIN Facility
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
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.
Topics:
* Course Overview
* Basic MAINTAIN Procedures
* Developing Screens
* The Winform Properties Dialog Box
* The Create Field Dialog Box
* Creating Buttons

Completing a MAINTAIN Application
Time: 2.0 hour(s)
Summary:
This course teaches users how to build cases, create a grid, and use other commands to complete an application in MAINTAIN.
Objectives:
* Understand the sample databases and conventions used in the course.
* Use the ADDPROD, CHGPROD, and DELPROD commands to develop Cases.
* Use FWDPROD, BWDPROD, ENDPROD, and TOP to manipulate Cases.
* Create a grid for your MAINTAIN application.
* Use additional commands to manipulate your MAINTAIN application.
Topics:
* Course Overview
* Developing Cases
* Case Codes
* Using a Grid
* Additional Commands