#include<form.h>
+
int set_field_buffer(FIELD *field, int buf, const char
*value);
char *field_buffer(const FIELD *field, int buffer);
@@ -62,24 +61,43 @@
int set_max_field(FIELD *field, int max);
-
The function set_field_buffer sets the numbered buffer of
- the given field to contain a given string. Buffer 0 is
- the displayed value of the field; other numbered buffers
- may be allocated by applications through the nbuf argument
- of (see form_field_new(3x)) but are not manipulated by the
- forms library. The function field_buffer returns the
- address of the buffer. Please note that this buffer has
- always the length of the buffer, that means that it may
- typically contain trailing spaces. If you entered leading
- spaces the buffer may also contain them. If you want the
- raw data, you must write your own routine that copies the
- value out of the buffer and removes the leading and trail-
- ing spaces. Please note also, that subsequent operations
- on the form will probably change the content of the
- buffer. So do not use it for long term storage of the
- entered form data.
+ the given field to contain a given string:
+
+ o Buffer 0 is the displayed value of the field.
+
+ o Other numbered buffers may be allocated by applica-
+ tions through the nbuf argument of (see
+ form_field_new(3x)) but are not manipulated by the
+ forms library.
+
+ The function field_buffer returns a pointer to the con-
+ tents of the given numbered buffer:
+
+ o The buffer contents always have the same length,
+ and are padded with trailing spaces as needed to
+ ensure this length is the same.
+
+ o The buffer may contain leading spaces, depending on
+ how it was set.
+
+ o The buffer contents are set with set_field_buffer,
+ or as a side effect of any editing operations on
+ the corresponding field.
+
+ o Editing operations are based on the window which
+ displays the field, rather than a string. The win-
+ dow contains only printable characters, and is
+ filled with blanks. If you want the raw data, you
+ must write your own routine that copies the value
+ out of the buffer and removes the leading and
+ trailing spaces.
+
+ o Because editing operations change the content of
+ the buffer to correspond to the window, you should
+ not rely on using buffers for long-term storage of
+ form data.
The function set_field_status sets the associated status
flag of field; field_status gets the current value. The
@@ -91,8 +109,7 @@
size threshold for that field.
-
The header file <form.h> automatically includes the header
file
- When configured for wide-characters, field_buffer returns
+ When configured for wide characters, field_buffer returns
a pointer to temporary storage (allocated and freed by the
library). The application should not attempt to modify
- the data. It will be freed on the next call to
- field_buffer to return the same buffer. <curses.h>.
+ the data. It will be freed on the next call to field_buf-
+ fer to return the same buffer. <curses.h>.
-