ScreenMan API

CLONE^DDS: Make a Copy of a Form

Use the CLONE^DDS API to make a copy of a form. All blocks used on the form are copied and a new form that uses the new blocks is created.

In Figure 240, CLONE^DDS is used to make a copy of the XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS form of the NEW PERSON (#200) file:

Figure 240: ScreenMan Forms—CLONE^DDS: Sample Dialog to Copy a Form

>D CLONE^DDS <Enter>


CLONE FORM FROM WHAT FILE: NEW PERSON <Enter>

Select FORM to clone: ??

Choose from:
   XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS              #1      12/06/90           File #200
   XUEXISTING USER                     #2      12/12/90           File #200

Select FORM to clone: XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS <Enter> XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS

                                        #1      12/06/90           File #200

Once you have selected a form to clone, a report that lists the blocks used on the form is printed, as shown in Figure 241:

Figure 241: ScreenMan Forms—CLONE^DDS: Report Showing Blocks Used on a Form

   BLOCKS USED ON FORM "XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS" (IEN #1)

   Internal
   Entry Number      Block Name
   ------------      ----------
   1                 XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS HDR
   2                 XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS

Enter RETURN to continue or '^' to exit: <Enter>

You must assign names to the new form and blocks you are creating. If the original form and blocks are namespaced (i.e., start with the same set of characters), you can choose to give the new form and blocks the same name, but with the namespace replaced with another set of characters. Then, when you are asked to enter new names, names that have the namespace replaced with the set of characters are displayed as defaults, as shown in Figure 242:

Figure 242: ScreenMan Forms—CLONE^DD: Assigning New Form and Block Names

The new form and blocks must be given unique names.

Give the new form and blocks the same names as the original,
but a different namespace? YES// <Enter>


Original namespace: XU <Enter>
     New namespace: ZZ <Enter>

Enter names for the new form and blocks.

Original form name: XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS <Enter>
     New form name: ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS <Enter>


Original block name: XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS HDR <Enter>
     New block name: ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS HDR <Enter>

Original block name: XUEDIT CHARACTERISTICS <Enter>
     New block name: ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS <Enter>

After you have given names to the new form and blocks, you are ready to clone the form as shown in Figure 243:

Figure 243: ScreenMan Forms—CLONE^DDS: Cloning a Form

Ready to clone form? YES <Enter>

Creating new blocks ...

   ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS HDR           #71
   ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS               #72

Creating new form ...
  ZZEDIT CHARACTERISTICS                #36

Repointing to new blocks ...
Reindexing new form ...


DONE!
>

NOTE: Be sure to check the properties of the cloned form and blocks for namespaced variables, block references, etc., that need to be modified manually.

Reviewed/Updated: May 2026