FOCUS - Online Course

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.

This series is for anyone interested in learning to use FOCUS either as an end user or an application developer. This online course contains 21 lessons and should take approximately 55 hours to complete.

Lesson 1: Getting Started (3.0) hours

Getting Started teaches you how to recognize basic FOCUS concepts and terminology, define the FOCUS file structure, use the Master File Description, create reports and use facilities, and use Application Developer facilities. This course provides an introduction to the FOCUS environment and its features and terminology. Topics include General Concepts, File Structures, Master File Descriptions, Facilities for End Users, More Facilities for End Users, and Application Developer Facilities.

Lesson 2: Working with FOCUS (2.0) hours

Working with FOCUS teaches you how to 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, and operate WINDOW commands in TED. This course shows users how to work in FOCUS using TED. Topics include General TED Concepts, TED Commands, Terminal Operator Environment, Types of Windows, and WINDOW Commands.

Lesson 3: Basic Report Preparation (3.0) hours

Basic Report Preparation teaches you how to 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, and explain the various uses of the WHERE clause. This course This course is for anyone who is interested in learning about basic report preparation using FOCUS. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Starting a Simple Report, Printing Values, Creating Report Requests, and Record Selection.

Lesson 4: Creating Simple Reports (4.0) hours

Creating Simple Reports teaches you how to 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, and create course databases. This course shows users how to use FOCUS to create simple reports. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Line and Page Formatting, Headings and Footings, Techniques for Formatting Reports, FOCUS Hot Screen, and Using the Hot Screen.

Lesson 5: Creating Complex Reports (3.0) hours

Creating Complex Reports teaches you how to 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, and create totals in your reports and print them. This course shows users how to use various techniques to create sophisticated reports with FOCUS. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Advanced Sorting Techniques, Creating Matrix Reports, Additional Formatting Options, Ranking Data, Subtotaling Operations, and The WHEN Clause.

Lesson 6: Additional Reporting Techniques (3.0) hours

Additional Reporting Techniques teaches you how to 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, and distinguish between the Hold vs Save commands. This course explains what you need to know in order to perform additional reporting techniques. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, The JOIN Command, The MATCH Command, HOLD and PCHOLD Files, SAVE and SAVB Files, and Retrieving Data.

Lesson 7: Fundamentals of Graphs (2.0) hours

Fundamentals of Graphs teaches you how to 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, and create single variable histograms and multiple variable histograms. This course provides an introduction to graphing concepts and techniques used in FOCUS. Topics include Conventions and Graph Types, Graph Requirements, Setting Graph Parameters, Bar Charts, Bar Chart Parameters, and Histograms.

Lesson 8: Advanced Graph Topics (2.0) hours

Advanced Graph Topics teaches you how to 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, and display graphs on alternate devices. This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms. Topics include Conventions and Graph Types, Connected Point Plots, Scatter Diagrams, Adjusting Graphs, and Display Options.

Lesson 9: Data Manipulation for Reporting (3.0) hours

Data Manipulation for Reporting teaches you how to use expressions, use prefix operators, create new fields, use the DEFINE command, specify the parameters of scatter diagrams, and explain the differences between COMPUTE and DEFINE. This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Expressions, Prefix Operators, The COMPUTE Command, The DEFINE Command, and Comparing COMPARE and DEFINE.

Lesson 10: Advanced Screening Techniques (3.0) hours

Advanced Screening Techniques teaches you how to 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, and store lists of screening values as text files. This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, DECODE and EDIT, INCLUDES and EXCLUDES, Screening on Masked Fields, Screening Accumulated Data, and Additional Screening Procedures.

Lesson 11: Creating File Definitions (2.0) hours

Creating File Definitions teaches you how to 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, and explain how to specify field length. This course explains how to create and format graphs for presentation on various types of platforms. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Describing the File, Describing Segments, and Field Declaration.

Lesson 12: Adjusting File Definitions (3.0) hours

Adjusting File Definitions teaches you how to 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, and use the CHECK command. This course shows users how to adjust file definitions in FOCUS. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Field Attributes, Editing Options, Additional Ways to Describe Fields, and Creating an MFD.

Lesson 13: Accessing External Files (2.0) hours

Accessing External Files teaches you how to 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, and code Access File Description to access SQL tables from FOCUS. This course shows users how to describe external files to FOCUS. Topics include Defining External Files, Fixed Format Files, Variable Segment Files, Other DBMS Files, and Optional Interfaces.

Lesson 14: Basic MODIFY Requests (3.0) hours

Basic MODIFY Requests teaches you how to 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, and create the PROMPT statement to read transaction data. This course provides an overview of the basic MODIFY requests in FOCUS. Topics include What is MODIFY?, Entering a Basic MODIFY Request, Reading and Describing Data, FREEFORM, and PROMPT and CRTFORM.

Lesson 15: Segment Modification (2.0) hours

Segment Modification teaches you how to 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, and recognize and understand three course databases. This course provides further instruction in maintaining and understanding files and databases in FOCUS. Topics include The MATCH Statement, Root Segments, Updating Segment Instances, Deleting Segment Instances, Modifying Unique Segments, and Modifying Descendent Segments.

Lesson 16: Complex MODIFY Requests (2.0) hours

Complex MODIFY Requests teaches you how to understand course conventions in FOCUS, recognize and understand three course databases, compute new values, define incoming data fields, test incoming transaction values, and test for existing incoming values. This course provides an overview of the use of FOCUS and how to use it to perform complex MODIFY Requests. Topics include Course Conventions, Course Databases, The COMPUTE Statement, and The VALIDATE Statement.

Lesson 17: Additional File Maintenance (3.0) hours

Additional File Maintenance teaches you how to 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, and design an application. This course provides further instruction in maintaining and understanding files and databases in FOCUS. Topics include Course Databases, Messages, The LOG Statement, Case Logic, Branching, and Designing a Sample Application.

Lesson 18: Dialogue Manager and FIDEL (3.0) hours

Dialogue Manager and FIDEL teaches you how to 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, and identify three types of fields on a FIDEL screen. This course provides an advanced look at the Dialogue Manager and FIDEL features found in FOCUS. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, Dialogue Manager, Control Statements, FIDEL, PF Keys, and Cursor Control.

Lesson 19: More Features of FIDEL (3.0) hours

More Features of FIDEL teaches you how to use automatic CRTFORMs for database maintenance, use case logic in FIDEL, read multiple occurrences of fields with a single CRTFORM, and create a menu-driven application using Dialogue Manager. This course provides an overview of the additional features of FIDEL and how FIDEL is used with MODIFY and Dialogue Manager. Topics include Course Conventions and Databases, FIDEL in MODIFY, Additional FIDEL Features, FIDEL and CRTFORMs, and FIDEL in Dialogue Manager.

Lesson 20: MAINTAIN Facility (2.0) hours

MAINTAIN Facility teaches you how to 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, and identify additional commands that are useful when developing MAINTAIN procedures. This course explains how to use the FOCUS MAINTAIN facility to maintain FOCUS files. Topics include Course Overview, Basic MAINTAIN Procedures, Developing Screens, The Winform Properties Dialog Box, The Create Field Dialog Box, and Creating Buttons.

Lesson 21: Completing a MAINTAIN Application (2.0) hours

Completing a MAINTAIN Application teaches you how to 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, and use additional commands to manipulate your MAINTAIN application. This course teaches users how to build cases, create a grid, and use other commands to complete an application in MAINTAIN. Topics include Course Overview, Developing Cases, Case Codes, Using a Grid, and Additional Commands.