Dedicated Process Server

The dedicated Process Server consists of two Subprograms, UI_INIT_SERVICE_PROCESSES and UI_LOOP_SERVICE_PROCESSSES. The first of these (UI_INIT_SERVICE_PROCESSES) allows the Application Programmer to specify a UIPACK Definition File (.UID) containing, for example, the declarations for some Viewports and Processes (see Chapter 7 for a discussion of the format of a UIPACK Definition File). UI_LOOP_SERVICE_PROCESSES may then be called to service the Client Processes defined within the Definition File. Depending on the contents of the Definition File, one of the Clients may have been ``connected" to the keyboard. The Viewport associated with this Client will be ``popped" to the front of the Screen and be highlighted. Any keyboard input will be directed to this Client until Ctrl-C is typed by the Operator. This will cause a Menu to be ``popped" to the front of the screen where the following options are available:-

CONNECT <process>

Connect the keyboard to the specified Process. This will cause the Viewport associated with the currently connected Process to be unhighlighted and possibly hidden and the Viewport associated with the specified Process to be popped to the front of the screen and highlighted. Subsequent keyboard input will be directed to this process (and echoed within this Viewport).

EXIT

Exits from the Dedicated Server. This causes the Application Program to return from UI_LOOP_SERVICE_PROCESSES.

SHOW

Display the currently defined Processes. This allows an overview of all Processes, irregardless of whether their associated Viewport is visible or hidden (e.g. behind the Viewports of other Processes).