Displaying the expanded form of error messages

If an error occurs when FM/Db2 attempts to process a panel, a short text message displays in the upper right corner of the screen. Db2 View showing short text message shows an example where FM/Db2 cannot find the Db2® object specified.

Figure 1. Db2® View showing short text message
  Process   Options   Utilities   Help
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 FM/Db2 (DFE2)                      Db2 View            Object not found (DFE2)

 Specify the Db2 Object:
    Location  . . . . .                         Database . .          (optional)
    Owner . . . . . . . DSN8910           +     Table space           (optional)
    Name  . . . . . . . EMPX                                                +

    Row count . . . . . ALL       

 Template:
    Data set name . . . 'FMNUSER.FMSKELS'                             
    Member  . . . . . .         

 Processing Options:
    Template usage                     Enter "/", "A"lways to select option
    3  1. Above                           Edit options
       2. Previous                        Edit template
       3. Generate from table             Re-edit template
       4. Generate/Replace
 Command ===>                                                                  
  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F4=Expand    F7=Backward  F8=Forward
  F9=Swap     F10=Left     F11=Right    F12=Cancel

While this message is displayed, pressing the Help function key (F1) displays the expanded text of the error message at the bottom of the screen as shown in Db2 View showing expanded message.

Figure 2. Db2® View showing expanded message
  Process   Options   Utilities   Help
────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────
 FM/Db2 (DFE2)                      Db2 View            Object not found (DFE2)

 Specify the Db2 Object:
    Location  . . . . .                         Database . .          (optional)
    Owner . . . . . . . DSN8910           +     Table space           (optional)
    Name  . . . . . . . EMPX                                                +

    Row count . . . . . ALL       

 Template:
    Data set name . . . 'FMNUSER.FMSKELS'                             
    Member  . . . . . .         

 Processing Options:
    Template usage                     Enter "/", "A"lways to select option
┌────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┐
│ No Db2 object matches the combination of object details entered in Db2 │
│ system DFE2.  Press Help for more information.                         │
└────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘
 Command ===>                                                                  
  F1=Help      F2=Split     F3=Exit      F4=Expand    F7=Backward  F8=Forward
  F9=Swap     F10=Left     F11=Right    F12=Cancel

Some messages, like the one shown in Db2 View showing expanded message have "Press Help for more information." in the text of the long message. In this case, you can press the Help function key (F1) (again) when the long message is displayed to show a help panel with additional information like that shown in Help panel displaying additional information relating to a long error message.

Figure 3. Help panel displaying additional information relating to a long error message
 ┌─────────────────────────── Db2 Object not found ────────────────────────────┐
 │                                                                             │
 │ Db2 could not find object DSN8910.EMPX                                   +  │
 │                                                                             │
 │ Possible reasons why Db2 could not find this object include:                │
 │                                                                             │
 │ - The specified Db2 object does not exist -                                 │
 │   -- Is the spelling correct?                                               │
 │   -- Are you connected to the correct Db2 system?                           │
 │ - There was an uppercase/lowercase mismatch.                                │
 │   The Translate Db2 object name option is ON, if the Db2 object name        │
 │   contains lower case letters it will not be recognized.                    │
 │   To change the Translate Db2 object name option select option 0.0.2.       │
 │ - If no OWNER was specified, FM/Db2 used FMNUSER    + to qualify the name.  │
 │ - A synonym name was specified, but the owner of the synonym is not         │
 │   FMNUSER.     A synonym name is only recognized when the current SQLID     │
 │   and the synonym owner match.                                              │
 │ - The object name specified is too long to be displayed on the function     │
 │   entry panel.  If you used EXPAND to enter a long name in a field, you     │
 │   must use EXPAND again to clear all parts of the name.  Clearing the field │
 │   on the function entry panel only sets the visible part of the field to    │
 │   spaces.                                                                   │
 │ Command ===>                                                                │
 │  F1=Help        F2=Split       F3=Exit        F4=Expand      F7=Backward    │
 │  F8=Forward     F9=Swap       F10=Left       F11=Right      F12=Cancel      │
 └─────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────────┘