Parallel Display of Menu and Programs (Magic xpa 3.x)
The menu system is usually displayed alongside the actual executed subsystem threads. The menu program should be run in parallel with the actual programs of the various subsystem threads.
You should make use of the HTML frame capabilities for providing a combined display of both the menu and programs of the subsystem thread.
Frameset
The most common form of defining frames is using a frameset, which is an HTML structure that divides the browser page into several sections. Each section can serve as an independent page.
The most commonly used frame structure is shown in the figure below. This frameset contains three frames:
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Top frame – For display of headers, such as the company logo. This frame is called the Header frame.
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Left frame – A relatively narrow frame designated for the menu program. This frame is called the Menu frame.
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Right frame – A relatively broad frame designated for the display of various subsystem-thread programs. This frame is called the Central frame.
The Initial Request
When working with such a frameset, the initial request that launches the application is the HTML frameset’s URL. Each frame then issues its own URL:
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The Header frame may issue a URL to a static HTML page that displays the application name and logo.
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The Central frame can also issue a URL to a static HTML page that may present a simple Welcome message.
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The Menu frame is the frame that actually makes the first request to the enterprise server by issuing a URL set to execute the menu program.
IFRAME
Another way to provide a frame structure is to use the Internet Explorer’s IFRAME feature, which lets you embed a frame within an existing HTML page.
When you use IFRAME you can set a frame within the HTML form of the menu system program that serves as the destination frame for the subsystem-thread programs.
The menu program’s HTML page displays the menu options and the header while the IFRAME serves as the Central frame. This means that no additional frameset structure needs to be defined.
The Initial Request
When working with an IFRAME element, the initial request that launches the application is a URL that executes the menu system program. The resulting HTML page of this program already provides the frame for the subsystem threads.
