Overlay Information in Direct Form

Using a serial byte string (“direct mode”), each information consists of character values formed by characters being behind one another inside any input character string. Depending on the program (CODING1/2/3) the position and overlay values are derived each from 1 or 2 or 3 characters respectively.

By entering overlay information in direct mode, there first is a “magnifying glass“ symbol on the left side of the input field. This symbol shows that the corresponding overlay information is not entered or is not acknowledged by repetition of this information. Any character of this field is represented by a star-character. There is no possibility to inspect such characters of this field in a direct way. To give you an orientation especially using long overlay information, the program displays the place of the cursor or the range of places being marked at the left side of the status bar as already described above.

If you have finished the input of your overlay information in direct mode, you can inform the program by pushing the return button or making a mouse click outside this input field. Then the program will ask you to repeat this overlay information. If you answer in the negative, the input of overlay information is finished and the „magnifying glass“ symbol is preserved as a memory. You can click this “magnifying glass“ symbol at any time to carry through the confirmation of the key. If you answer in the affirmative, you get the possibility to confirm the overlay information by repetition under field heading “Repeat overlay information”. Here too you can inform the program about the end of the input by pushing the return button or making a mouse click outside the key input field.

If both inputs are identical, a “tick in green circle” symbol is shown indicating that the input of the overlay information in direct mode is finished successfully. Any additional change of this overlay information is interpreted as a new input of the overlay information and therefore has to be confirmed.

If you enter overlay information in metasyntax, the following is valid. If this field isn’t selected i.e. hasn’t the focus, the field information is displayed as stars. If the field is selected, the contents of this field only is visible if the mouse pointer is located or moved in the central region of this field. If the mouse pointer slowly leaves the central region of this field, then the information is hidden. Regardless of that marked field parts are always visible.

Here the “magnifying glass“ symbol shows you that the syntax of the overlay information yet isn’t checked successfully with regard to the selected metasyntax. You can click this “magnifying glass“ symbol at any time to carry through the checking of the overlay information.