Fast Path Characteristics

Fast Path Codes

The fast path capability allows you to move easily between online programs in the system.  The hierarchical menu structure you define with the Menu Authorization facility is the basis for the fast path codes.  The Fast Path Code is made up of the menu option codes required to go from the initial menu to the desired menu or program.  Because different initial menus (and different options on each menu) can be defined for each user ID, fast path codes for the same option may differ from user to user.

Mnemonics

Mnemonics perform the same function as fast path codes.  However, a mnemonic code is not based on the hierarchical menu structure; several users may use the same mnemonics even though their menu structures are different.

Fast Path Data Structure

In addition to the Fast Path Code, the Fast Path Data Structure (MPFPDS) allows key data to be passed from one program to another.  The user enters key data (along with the fast path code or mnemonic) in the command line that appears when F2 (Command) is pressed from any application screen (or the command line that is displayed on a menu screen).  In most cases, the application program that is executing will place the value of the key field that it is working with in the Part field.  This value can be accepted without change, blanked out, or typed over.  No validation is done on the Part data in the programs; it is just passed out of the program.  The data placed in the Part field is interpreted as incoming data by the next application program called.  For example, the Workcenter Inquiry Program interprets the value in the Part field as a Workcenter Number. 

Linking Programs with Function Keys

Note that the Fast Path Data Structure is used to communicate between two programs that are linked by a function key.  For example, the user can press F9 from within the Part Inquiry conversation to access the Part Maintenance Program.  In this case, the RPG program formats the key data field with the part number. 

Fast Path Data Structure Fields

The Fast Path Data Structure is common to all RPG application programs called from the online menu.  Figure 1 shows the fields on the data structure.

 Fast Path Data Structure Fields.

F9 Command Key Processing

Inquiry Programs Calling Maintenance Programs Using F9 - Maintenance

All MAC-PAC programs called online use the Fast Path Data Structure.  Certain programs also use fast path processing to communicate with each other.  The most common use of fast path processing is an inquiry program calling the corresponding maintenance program when F9 - Maintenance is pressed.  The following processing occurs when F9 - Maintenance is pressed:

·     Key data is placed in the Fast Path Data Structure in the appropriate fields.  The "from" program's name is also placed in the data structure.  The "from" program's name is used both to identify where a data structure was loaded and is used by the target program to determine if it was called directly from another program.

·     The target program's Fast Path Code is retrieved from the Fast Path Control File (CT130M).  The key that is used is the target program's name. 

·     The from program terminates and the Fast Path Code and Fast Path Data Structure are passed out of the program to the Menu Authorization program, which then calls the target program with the fast path code.

·     Menu processing directs control to the target program.  The target program then checks the "from program" code of the Fast Path Data Structure and interprets the values in the Fast Path Data Structure as required.  For example, the Product Structure Maintenance Program recognizes the Single-Level BOM Explosion's Program Code; it is assured the values passed are Parent Part Number and Product Structure Sequence Number.  This fast path processing is transparent to the user.