Group Map Fields

The MFDEMO application displays information returned from the database on the DEMO92 screen in a series of three columns across. If we group these fields using the Map Annotation Editor, we can then refer to the grouped fields as arrays when we define our service operation.

1. In the Interface Mapper, IMS Screen pane, hover the mouse over the left-most field that appears in the first row, just below the FUNC label. A popup tells us that the name of this field is FLD0014.
2. Now hover your mouse over the right-most field that appears in the last row, just above the NEXT-ELEMENT label. The popup tell us that the name of this field is FLD0055.
3. From the Solution Explorer, right-click DEMO92.mfs; then click Edit Annotations for Services > Map DEMO92. This starts the Map Annotations Editor.
4. Scroll down the list of fields until you find FLD0014, then click this field to select it.
5. Continue scrolling down until you find FLD0055. Hold the Shift key down and click FLD0055 to select it and all of the fields listed between it and FLD0014.
6. Move your mouse to the area of the window that is selected, then right-click and select Group from the popup menu.
7. In the Number of fields in the group field, type 3.
8. In the Group name prefix field, type RETURN. This prefix along with a generated group identifier (for example, GRP1) becomes a parent to the fields in the group.
9. Click OK.

   On the DEMO92 window, you now see that the parent for the grouped fields is RETURN-GRPn, and that this group occurs 14 times as is shown in the Occurs column. The three fields listed below the parent each bear the name of the first field in each column that appears across the screen, appended by Grp.

10. Save your changes and exit the Map Annotations Editor.

    The rendering of the DEMO92 screen in the Interface Mapper is automatically updated with these changes to the map.