Nortel Networks VT100 manual Action templates, Procedure Accessing transaction information

Template files 2-5

The action templates, screen templates, and screen.conf file are ASCII text files that use a simple syntax to define the screen flow and input/output fields. The sections that follow provide a detailed explanation of the templates, as well as the information necessary to create the screen.conf file.

Action templates

A VT100 transaction typically moves through several screens until it locates specific information. The screens may be a series of commands issued at the operating system prompt, or they may be screens within an application running on the host computer. Whenever Meridian IVR 2.0/I references an action template, the VT100 Gateway executes the screen templates listed in the action template, moving through the application just as a terminal operator would. An action template must specify the same sequence of screens that the terminal operator traverses.

A separate action template defines each transaction. In the example shown in Figure 2-1, if you want to select a menu option other than “Accounts Receivable,” you would define another action template.

Action templates describe the flow of the screens that comprise a particular transaction. For example, if you want a transaction to access billing information for a specific client, as a terminal operator you would perform the following steps:

Procedure 2-1

Accessing transaction information

1Log on to the computer.

2Start the “acct” application.

3Select the “Accounts Receivable” menu.

4When prompted, enter the client’s account number and press the Return key. A screen would appear displaying the client’s billing information.

5Read the account information on the screen.

In a Meridian IVR 2.0/I VT100 transaction, an initial-action template performs steps 1 and 2. The initial-action template automatically executes when the TRS process starts (initial-action templates are described later in this chapter.). An action template created to execute this transaction would perform steps 3 through 5.

Meridian IVR VT100 Gateway Development Guide Product release 2.0/I