form_fieldtype 3x

form_fieldtype(3x)                                          form_fieldtype(3x)




NAME

       form_fieldtype - define validation-field types


SYNOPSIS

       #include <form.h>

       FIELDTYPE *new_fieldtype(
           bool (* const field_check)(FIELD *, const void *),
           bool (* const char_check)(int, const void *));
       int free_fieldtype(FIELDTYPE *fieldtype);

       int set_fieldtype_arg(
           FIELDTYPE *fieldtype,
           void *(* const make_arg)(va_list *),
           void *(* const copy_arg)(const void *),
           void  (* const free_arg)(void *));
       int set_fieldtype_choice(
           FIELDTYPE *fieldtype,
           bool (* const next_choice)(FIELD *, const void *),
           bool (* const prev_choice)(FIELD *, const void *));

       FIELDTYPE *link_fieldtype(FIELDTYPE *type1,
                                 FIELDTYPE *type2);


DESCRIPTION


new_fieldtype

       The  function  new_fieldtype  creates  a new field type usable for data
       validation.  Its parameters are function pointers:

       field_check
            This function checks the validity of an entered data string  when-
            ever the user attempts to leave a field.  It has two arguments:

            o   The  (FIELD  *) argument is passed in so the validation predi-
                cate can see the field's buffer, sizes and other attributes.

            o   The second argument  is  an  argument-block  structure,  about
                which more below.

       char_check
            This function validates input characters as they are entered.  The
            form library passes it the character to be checked and  a  pointer
            to an argument-block structure.


free_fieldtype

       The free_fieldtype function frees the space allocated for a given vali-
       dation type by new_fieldtype.


set_fieldtype_arg

       The  function  set_fieldtype_arg  associates  three  storage-management
       functions with a field type:

       make_arg
            This  function  is  automatically applied to the list of arguments
            you give set_field_type when attaching validation to a field.   It
            stores  the  arguments in an allocated argument-block object which
            is used when validating input.

       copy_arg
            This function may be used by applications to copy argument-blocks.

       free_arg
            Frees an argument-block structure.

       You must supply the make_arg function.  The other two are optional: you
       may  supply NULL for them.  In this case, the form library assumes that
       make_arg does not allocate memory but simply loads the argument into  a
       single scalar value.


set_fieldtype_choice

       The  form  driver  requests  REQ_NEXT_CHOICE and REQ_PREV_CHOICE assume
       that the possible values of a field form an ordered  set,  and  provide
       the forms user with a way to move through the set.

       The  set_fieldtype_choice  function  allows forms programmers to define
       successor and predecessor functions for the field  type.   These  func-
       tions  take  the field pointer and an argument-block structure as argu-
       ments.


link_fieldtype

       The function link_fieldtype creates a new field type from the two given
       types.  They are connected by an logical 'OR'.


RETURN VALUE

       The  pointer-valued  routines  return  NULL  on  error.  They set errno
       according to their success:

       E_OK The routine succeeded.

       E_BAD_ARGUMENT
            Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

       E_SYSTEM_ERROR
            System error occurred, e.g., malloc failure.

       The integer-valued routines return one of the following codes on error:

       E_OK The routine succeeded.

       E_BAD_ARGUMENT
            Routine detected an incorrect or out-of-range argument.

       E_CONNECTED
            The field is already connected to a form.

       E_CURRENT
            The field is the current field.

       E_SYSTEM_ERROR
            System error occurred (see errno(3)).


SEE ALSO

       curses(3x), form(3x), form_field_validation(3x).


NOTES

       The  header  file  <form.h>  automatically  includes  the  header  file
       <curses.h>.


PORTABILITY

       These  routines emulate the System V forms library.  They were not sup-
       ported on Version 7 or BSD versions.


AUTHORS

       Juergen Pfeifer.  Manual pages and adaptation for new curses by Eric S.
       Raymond.



                                                            form_fieldtype(3x)