Difference between a mask and a group

[Mike Klemens]

Greetings clovertechers…

Forgive the elementry question but I am a bit new to cloverleaf.

Topic

[David Harrison]

I’ve only ever used mask. I use it for a standard field I need to include in a set of FRLs – eg header information for OpenLink transactions.

My understanding is that mask is used for a single field whereas group is used for multiple fields.

[Chris Williams]

A mask allows you to create a reusable definition that defines all the individual descriptive bits of a field.

A group allows you to create a reusable definition for a field containing sub-fields which may or may not use masks to define those sub-fields.

Example: define a group called Name that includes subfields First, Middle, and Last. You can then insert fields in your FRL called PatientName, DoctorName, GuarantorName, all using the group Name, and you don’t have to enter the individual sub-fields. Those fields you include in your group definition can also use masks.

[Mike Klemens]

Chris,

Can you give another example of where you might use a mask?

[Chris Williams]

Sure. Let’s look at dates. For a particular FRL we use, out of 165 fields, eight are dates that are all defined in the same way. Rather than defining each individual field specifying Fill Char, Width, Justification and Validation, you want to define those things in a mask. When you go to add the date fields to the FRL, instead of selecting a Field Type of Normal and specifying all those pieces each time, select Mask and grab the name of the Mask you created from the drop-down. On the other hand, if you like all the extra typing and mouse clicks….

When working with FRLs, often the specs will list column positions which you don’t see when working in Cloverleaf. I’m attaching a routine I wrote a couple years ago that will display the layout of your FRL, listing field number, width and column positions.

Cheers.

[Jim Kosloskey]

Chris,

I believe that relative position feature for the FRL Configurator is in Cloverelaf 5.7. If not it will be in the follow-on release if I recall correctly.

email: jim.kosloskey@jim-kosloskey.com 29+ years Cloverleaf, 59 years IT - old fart.

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