(OMS-75109) Prompts are positioned above the first record of each item.
Prompts for text items are start, center, or end-aligned similarly to the data in their corresponding text fields, except in the case of long prompts that use connecting lines (OMS-75011) (discussed in the next section).
Prompts for poplists are always left-aligned (OMS-75011).
Prompts for check boxes are centered above the box, except in the case of prompts that use connecting lines (discussed later) (OMS-75011). Do not use the "label" property for check boxes in a multi-record block.
(OMS-75027) There are several options when there is not enough space to fit the length of the prompt or the length of the prompt plus its translation allowance. Four options are discussed below, in order of most to least preferred:
When prompts contain too much text to fit on one line, a multi-line boilerplate item should be used. Use a "return" character to advance to the next line of text, and divide the prompt into lines of approximately the same number of characters each.
If a prompt is wider than its corresponding field, and a multi-line prompt cannot be used or still does not solve the problem, then leave a gap to the left or right of the field to accommodate the width of the prompt. Never widen a standard length field to fill this gap. If the field does not have a standard length, it should be widened to fill the gap, but the displayed length should never be made longer than the database length.
Prompts may be connected to their fields with a line consisting of a frame of zero width.
For multi-record block prompts that must use a connecting line, align the prompt with the left side of the field and draw the connecting line from the leftmost character of the prompt to the leftmost character of the field (regardless of how the data in the field is justified) or to the center of the first character cell for a check box.
When the prompt cannot overflow to the right (for example, when the check box or field is on the right side of the block), align the prompt to the right side of the field or center of the check box and draw the connecting line from the rightmost character of the prompt to the rightmost character of the field, or to the center of a check box (in other words, exactly the mirror image).
In either case, the connecting line should be drawn in the center of the appropriate character cell and the origin of the prompt should be in the center of the same character cell (i.e. a half character cell (0.05") in from the appropriate edge of the field or in the center of a check box).
[Translation] The prompt of a field may overlap an adjacent field if the maximum translated length of each prompt would still leave a 1" gap between them. This technique can only be used when a left-aligned and right-aligned field are adjacent, and one of them is substantially longer than the other.
The following enumerates some of the specific settings for multi-record block prompts, including prompts over check boxes and prompts that use connecting lines.
(OMS-75010) All prompts for multi-record blocks have the following vertical placement settings:
Display Style: First Record
Attachment Edge: Top
Attachment Offset : 0.0"
(OMS-75011) Horizontal placement is determined as follows:
For left-justified data elements, including lists:
Justification: Start
Alignment: Start
Alignment Offset: 0.05"
For center-justified data, including check boxes (except when using connecting lines with check boxes):
Justification: Center
Alignment: Center
Alignment Offset: 0.0"
For right-justified data:
Justification: End
Alignment: End
Alignment Offset: 0.05"
Note: The 0.05" offset of the prompt from the right or left edge of the field is done to account for the bevel width.
(OMS-75028) Occasionally two multi-record blocks are shown in the same window, one above the other, where the only difference is the set of rows they retrieve. In this case, you do not need to replicate the prompts for the lower block.