Creating a Background Form

Output from forms generation statements may be printed on preprinted stock. Text may be included in the form using print codes that specify literal strings.

A background form that consists of text or graphics (or both) may also be designed. This background form is printed on every page of a set of forms along with the data (and any text) specified by the forms generation statement. Background forms make it possible to use standard plain paper to print forms. Use printer control characters intended for specific printers for highlighting, underlining, bolding or italicizing, etc.

To use a background form with a set of forms:

Create the background form with the Editor. This background form may be stored as an item in any file. Each line of the item corresponds to a line on a page of a form. For example, the third line of the background item is output on the third line of each page of every form.

Remember to coordinate the placement of the background form with the data and headings and footings you plan to use, otherwise portions of the background form or the data could be overwritten.

Include the B option in the forms generation statement.
Enter the file name and item-ID of the background item when the system displays the prompt:

Background File & Item>

Respond by entering:

filename item-ID

A Proc or an mvBASIC program may also be used to specify a background form.

The example below reflects the format of a background item called LATE-NOTICE. A demonstration of how this background item can be included on forms follows.

LATE-NOTICE

001

002

003 YOUR ACCOUNT IS NOW SERIOUSLY OVERDUE

004 IN THE FOLLOWING AMOUNT:

005

006 **********************************

007

008

009

010 **********************************

011

012 PLEASE REMIT PROMPTLY

The first two lines of the background form are blank since row 0 is reserved for headings. The fifth and eleventh lines are blank to create white space on the forms, as are the seventh and ninth lines. The eighth line contains the overdue amount.

This forms generation statement outputs data on pages that contain the preceding background form:

>FORMS CUSTOMERS.OVERDUE @(10,8):AMOUNT-DUE @(5,20):FULL-NAME @(5,21) :STREET @(5,22):CITY @(15,22):STATE HDR-SUPP (B)

Background File & Item> FORM-BACKGROUNDS LATE-NOTICE

NOTE	Printer control characters included in background text may cause data to be displaced from the specified positions. Test the output with the A option before generating the entire set of forms. This procedure is described in Aligning the Printer.