Connecting components in a Procedure

Procedures, in Scribe, are executable flowcharts. By connecting the executable components, we establish the order of execution.

Creating the connections
The connection from one component to another is achieved by connecting them in sequential order with an arrowed line that exits the originating component at a 90 degree angle. During this process, the originating component is surrounded by a box:

When the mouse is in area 1 or 3, the connecting line has these shapes (i.e. horizontal from the center of the originating box to the X position of the mouse, then vertical from this point to the mouse):

When the mouse is in area 2 or 4, the connecting line has these shapes (i.e. vertical from the center of the originating box to the Y position of the mouse, then horizontal from this point to the mouse):

Once the mouse emerges from the box surrounding the component, the lines are fixed. To actually carry out the maneuver (we are using a Report procedure as the example):

  1. Hold down the Control key and drag a connecting link from the first component you wish to complete during data entry (e.g. Calculation) to the next component (e.g. Print)

    remember to draw a straight horizontal connection, drag the line vertically (up or down) until it emerges from the component boundary; then pull left or right and swing to the horizontal axis of the component object as you head for the target. A similar approach applies to drawing a straight vertical connection: start out horizontally.

  1. Drag a Hub icon from Components in the Palette into the Workspace and position it below and between the Calculation and Print components

    the Hub component is used as a non-functional connector that allows the connecting lines to be drawn around interfering component in the flowchart or to not encroach upon other components (which would make it visually confusing during flowchart construction).

  2. Connect the remaining components, with the help of the Hub object, and do the Check Syntax test .

  3. Test your job. If you did well, you receive the No errors message.

If you get the Incomplete connections message, you will have missed connecting the component above which the message is positioned. In the event that you have multiple errors, the Test will display one error at a time. Correct it and continue testing until you receive the No errors message.