Field properties

The Field properties notebook describes information about the fields. It allows you to change the attributes and editing features of the field.

Select from the following field types to find out more information about its notebook pages:

Named field

The Named field properties notebook describes information about fields that your program can read and update at runtime. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Continued field

The Continued field properties notebook allows you to define a multiple-row entry field inside a rectangle. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Date field

The Date field properties notebook allows you to specify the format of a date field. It does not change the system default. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Time field

The Time field properties notebook describes information about the time field. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Timestamp field

The Timestamp field properties notebook describes information about the timestamp field. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Database reference

The Database reference properties notebook allows you to create or change a field in the current file that describes the field from a database file. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Source reference

The Source reference properties notebook lets you create a field that refers another field within the same DDS source file. The characteristics of the referenced field are inherited for this field. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

DSPF and PRTF:

PF:

Text constant

The Text constant properties notebook allows you to edit characteristics of text fields. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Message constant

The Message constant properties notebook allows you to create a field that displays a message from a specified message file. You can specify the field length, message file name, library, message ID, and message description. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Date constant

The Date constant properties notebook describes information about the system date. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Time constant

The Time constant properties notebook describes information about the system time. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

User name

The User name properties notebook describes information about your application user's AS/400 name. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

System name

The System name properties notebook describes information about your application user's AS/400 system name. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Page number

The Page number properties notebook describes information about the page number constant. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:

Basics page

This page contains information about the currently selected page number.

Position
Specifies the field's horizontal and vertical position on the printed page:
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Reset Page Number (PAGNBR)
Resets the page count by conditioning the PAGNBR keyword with option indicators.
Conditioning:
You can specify the condition under which the current keyword is in effect by selecting the push button.

Description
Briefly describes the constant and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the date field.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

MAPVAL
Specifies that the MAPVAL keyword is used.

Usage (DSPF only)
Displays the field usage for the field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.

Format (DATFMT)
Specifies the date format for the date field. Select from the following formats:

MDY
mm/dd/yy

YMD
yy/mm/dd

ISO
yyyy-mm-dd

EUR
dd.mm.yyyy

JOB
Uses the AS/400 date format from the job attribute.

DMY
dd/mm/yy

JUL
yy/ddd

USA
mm/dd/yyyy

JIS
yyyy-mm-dd

Separator (DATSEP)
Specifies a date separator for the following date formats: MDY, DMY, YMD, JUL, or JOB. The program uses DATSEP to override the job attribute for a date field. It does not change the system default.

Select from one of the date separators for the date field. The separator will appear between the year, month, and day. The default is to use the separator in the date format.

*JOB
The default is the job attribute.

/
Slash

--
Dash

.
Period

,
Comma

Blank

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the date field.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

Key
Specifies if this is a key field.

Allow NULL values (ALWNULL)
Allows null values for this field. If you specify ALWNULL for this field and also define it as a key field, the OS/400 program will include null values when determining duplicate key values.

If you specify the DFT keyword with the null value option, you must also specify ALWNULL.

Format (DATFMT)
Specifies the date format for the date field. Select from the following formats:

MDY
mm/dd/yy

YMD
yy/mm/dd

ISO
yyyy-mm-dd

EUR
dd.mm.yyyy

JOB
Uses the AS/400 date format from the job attribute.

DMY
dd/mm/yy

JUL
yy/ddd

USA
mm/dd/yyyy

JIS
yyyy-mm-dd

Separator (DATSEP)
Specifies a date separator for the following date formats: MDY, DMY, YMD, JUL, or JOB. The program uses DATSEP to override the job attribute for a date field. It does not change the system default.

Select from one of the date separators for the date field. The separator will appear between the year, month, and day. The default is to use the separator in the date format.

*JOB
The default is the job attribute.

/
Slash

--
Dash

.
Period

,
Comma

Blank

Default value (DFT)
Specifies a default value for the field if you want to provide this value to programs that use this record format. The program generates the DFT keyword. If you do not specify this keyword, the system will provide blanks for character and hexadecimal fields and zeros for numeric fields.

The default value of the field is the null value.

The default value of the field is the date format.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the time field.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

MAPVAL
Specifies that the MAPVAL keyword is used.

Usage (DSPF only)
Displays the field usage for the field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.

Format (TIMFMT)
Specifies the time format for the time field. Select from the following formats:

ISO
hh.mm.ss

USA
hh:mm a.m. or hh:mm p.m.

EUR
hh.mm.ss

JIS
hh:mm:ss

HMS
hh:mm:ss

Separator (TIMSEP) (if HMS is specified)
Specifies a time separator for the time format HMS. The program uses TIMSEP to override the job attribute for a time field. It does not change the system default.

Select from one of the time separators for the time field. The separator will appear between the hour, minute, and seconds.

*JOB
The default is the job attribute.

:
Colon

.
Period

,
Comma

Blank

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the time field.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

Key
Specifies if this is a key field.

Allow NULL values (ALWNULL)
Allows null values for this field. If you specify ALWNULL for this field and also define it as a key field, the OS/400 program will include null values when determining duplicate key values.

If you specify the DFT keyword with the null value option, you must also specify ALWNULL.

Format (TIMFMT)
Specifies the time format for the time field. Select from the following formats:

ISO
hh.mm.ss

USA
hh:mm a.m. or hh:mm p.m.

EUR
hh.mm.ss

JIS
hh:mm:ss

HMS
hh:mm:ss

Separator (TIMSEP) (if HMS is specified)
Specifies a time separator for the time format HMS. The program uses TIMSEP to override the job attribute for a time field. It does not change the system default.

Select from one of the time separators for the time field. The separator will appear between the hour, minute, and seconds.

*JOB
The default is the job attribute.

:
Colon

.
Period

,
Comma

Blank

Default value (DFT)
Specifies a default value for the field if you want to provide this value to programs that use this record format. The program generates the DFT keyword. If you do not specify this keyword, the system will provide blanks for character and hexadecimal fields and zeros for numeric fields.

The default value of the field is the null value.

The default value of the field is the time format.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the timestamp field.

Sample
Displays the resultant timestamp format.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

MAPVAL
Specifies that the MAPVAL keyword is used.

Usage (DSPF only)
Displays the field usage for the field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the timestamp field.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

Key
Specifies if this is a key field.

Allow NULL values (ALWNULL)
Allows null values for this field. If you specify ALWNULL for this field and also define it as a key field, the OS/400 program will include null values when determining duplicate key values.

If you specify the DFT keyword with the null value option, you must also specify ALWNULL.

Default value (DFT)
Specifies a default value for the field if you want to provide this value to programs that use this record format. The program generates the DFT keyword. If you do not specify this keyword, the system will provide blanks for character and hexadecimal fields and zeros for numeric fields.

The default value of the field is the null value.

The default value of the field is the specified string.

The default value of the field is the specified hexadecimal number.

The default value of the field is the specified number.

Basics page

The Basics page contains the general properties of the field.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Type
Specifies the type of field.
Specifies this field as a character output field.
Specifies this field as a zoned decimal field.
Specifies this field as a floating-point field.
Specifies this field as a DBCS field.

Usage
Displays the field usage for the field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.
Specifies the field usage specification as message.

Keyboard shift
Specifies the keyboard shift attribute to limit what the workstation user can type into a field. The possible field shifts are:
X
Alphabetic
A
Alphanumeric
N
Numeric shift
S
Signed numeric
Y
Numeric only
I
Inhibit keyboard
D
Digits only
M
Numeric only character
W
Katakana
J
DBCS only
E
DBCS either
O
DBCS open
G
DBCS graphic
Single precision (for floating point only)
Double precision (for floating point only)

Length
Specifies the total field length as well as the number of decimals for numeric and floating-point fields.

Total
Specifies the total length depending on the field type you select. The following is a list of maximum lengths for a field type:

Numeric
Up to 31 digits

Character
Up to 32 766 characters

Floating single
Up to 9 digits

Floating double
Up to 17 digits

DBCS only, DBCS either, DBCS open
Up to 32 766 bytes (must be an even number)

DBCS graphic
Up to 16 383 DBCS characters.

Dec
Valid only for floating-point fields. The number of decimals must be less than or equal to the number you specified in Total.

Continued (CNTFLD) (DSPF only)
Specifies this field as a continued-entry field for a display file character field with usage I or B.

Width (DSPF only)
Specifies the width of the continued field.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains information about the text constant field.

Text
Specifies the contents of the text constant that is being specified. Select from the following to determine the field's type:

Specifies that this constant contains normal text.

Specifies that this constant contains a pure DBCS graphic and only DBCS characters are valid in this field.

Specifies that this constant contains a hexadecimal. Valid values are 0-9 and A-F. This only applies to PRTF files.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the text constant and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains information about the currently selected time, user, or system constant.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the constant and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains information about the currently selected date constant.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Source of date
Specifies a field that contains the current Job or System date.

Length of year
Specifies a field that contains the system time. You can specify 2 digit or 4 digit.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the constant and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Basics page

The Basics page contains information about the selected named field.

Field
Displays the name of the field.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

Key
Specifies if this is a key field.

Allow NULL values (ALWNULL)
Allows null values for this field. If you specify ALWNULL for this field and also define it as a key field, the OS/400 program will include null values when determining duplicate key values.

If you specify the DFT keyword with the null value option, you must also specify ALWNULL.

Length
Specifies the total field length as well as the number of decimals for binary, zoned decimal, packed decimal, and floating-point fields.

Total
Specifies the total length depending on the field type you select. The following is a list of maximum lengths for a field type:

Hexadecimal
Up to 32 766 bytes

Zoned decimal
Up to 31 digits

Packed decimal
Up to 31 digits

Binary
Up to 9 digits
Note:
For variable-length fields the maximum lengths are 26 bytes (or 13 DBCS characters) less than those listed above. For null-capable fields, the maximum lengths are 1 byte (or 1 DBCS character) less than those listed above.

Dec
Valid only for binary, zoned-decimal, packed-decimal, and floating-point fields. The number of decimals must be less than or equal to the number you specified in Total.

Variable length
Specifies this field as a variable-length field. The program generates the VARLEN keyword.

Allocated length
Specifies the number of bytes that are allocated for the field in the fixed portion of the file. Variable-length fields are useful for improving storage when the data for the field typically fits within a certain length, but can occasionally be longer.
Note:
The allocated length must be less than or equal to the value you specify in the spin button. If you do not select an allocated length, the program stores the data for this field in the variable length portion of the file.

Type
Specifies the type of field.
Character
Hexadecimal
Zoned decimal
Packed decimal
Binary
Float single
Float double
DBCS only
DBCS either
DBCS open
DBCS graphic
Date
Time
Timestamp

Keyboard Shift
References the keyboard shift attribute to limit what the workstation user can type into a field. The possible field shifts are:
X
Alphabetic
A
Alphanumeric
N
Numeric shift
S
Signed numeric
Y
Numeric only
I
Inhibit keyboard
D
Digits only
M
Numeric only character
W
Katakana

Description
Briefly describes the contents of the field and stores this description in the TEXT keyword.

CCSID
Enables data conversion between different relational database management systems (DBMS) products. For example, you can create an application at one location and run against a database at a different location.
Identifier
Specifies the 5-digit coded character set identifier (CCSID) for the character field.
Field display length
Controls the number of characters that are displayed on the screen.

Default value (DFT)
Specifies a default value for the field if you want to provide this value to programs that use this record format. The program generates the DFT keyword. If you do not specify this keyword, the system will provide blanks for character and hexadecimal fields and zeros for numeric fields.

The default value of the field is the null value.

The default value of the field is the specified string.

The default value of the field is the specified hexadecimal number.

The default value of the field is the specified number.

Attributes page

The Attributes page allows you to specify the display attributes of the field. Specify the display attribute by selecting one of the following radio buttons:

Attributes
The following display attributes can be applied for display files:

All fields:

Causes the text to blink.
Displays column separators between each column in the field.
Displays fields at high intensity.
Hides the field.
Positions the cursor in the first character position of this field.
Reverses the foreground and background colors for the selected fields.
Underlines the field.

Input-capable fields:

Sets the changed tag for a field when the program displays the field.
Displays magnetic stripe reader OID data.
Prevents the user from typing data into the field.
Allows input fields to be selected by a light pen.

Field
Specifies the program-to-system field which sets the display attributes for this keyword. You can type in the name of the field or select it from the drop-down list.

You can specify more than one keyword in the list box. The program combines the parameters for the keywords that are in effect.

Conditioning:
You can specify the condition under which the current keyword is in effect by selecting the push button.

Add
Add a keyword with the current settings after the selected keyword in the list box. If you do not select a keyword, the program appends the new keyword at the end.

Change
Changes the selected keyword to reflect the current settings.

Remove
Removes the selected keyword.

Attributes page

The Attributes page allows you to specify the display attributes of the field. Specify the display attribute by selecting one of the following checkboxes:

Bold
Makes the text in the field bold.
Underline
Underlines the field.
Conditioning:
You can specify the condition under which the current keyword is in effect by selecting the push button.

Color page

The Color page allows you to specify the color of the field.

Conditioning:
You can specify the condition under which the current keyword is in effect by selecting the push button.

Color
Specifies the color of the field on a color display by selecting the desired color button.

Add
Add a keyword with the current settings after the selected keyword in the list box. If you do not select a keyword, the program appends the new keyword at the end.

Change
Changes the selected keyword to reflect the current settings.

Remove
Removes the selected keyword.

Editing page

The Editing page contains information about the type of editing you want to apply to the field.

No editing
Removes the current editing from the field.

Sample
Displays what the field looks like as you create it.

Use edit code (EDTCDE)
Applies an edit code from the list box which allows you to edit numeric output fields. Each row in the list box will show you any defined commas, signs, or zero balances.

The user-defined edit codes are 5 through 9. Use them to edit numbers that have hyphens (for example, telephone numbers) or more than one decimal point. A user-defined edit code is an OS/400 object. Before you create the display or printer file, this edit code must exist. You can use the Create Edit Description (CRTEDTD) command to create it.

Currency symbol
Specifies either the asterisk or floating currency symbol.

*
Specifies if you want an asterisk that is printed for each zero that is suppressed or a complete field of zeros for a zero balance field. Asterisk fills are valid for edit codes 1 through 4, A through D, and J through Q.

$
Select the currency symbol if you want the currency symbol to appear to the left of the first significant digit. It does not appear on a zero balance when you use an edit code that suppresses the zero balance. Floating currency symbols are valid for edit codes 1 through 4, A through D, and J through Q.

You can also type the currency symbol you want to use. This symbol must match the default currency symbol that is used by your AS/400 system when the file is created but not when the file is used. If you change it, you must also change the symbol that your system uses, as specified by the QCURSYM system value symbol.

Use edit word (EDTWRD)
Specifies the form in which field values are displayed or printed, so that they can easily be understood by the users. An edit word consists of three parts: body, status, and expansion.

Body
The body is the space for the digits that are transferred from the data field to the output field. It begins at the leftmost position of the edit word. The number of blanks (plus one zero or asterisk) is equal to the number of digits of the data field you want to edit. The body ends with the rightmost character that you replace with a digit.

Status
The status displays the sign (+ or -) of the data field. It appears to the right of the body as either a credit (CR) or minus (-) symbol. These two symbols print only when the field is negative. Edit words that have neither the credit nor minus symbol have no status positions.

Expansion
The expansion contains characters that are always printed. It starts at the first position to the right of the status and ends at the rightmost character of the edit word. It cannot contain blanks. If you require a blank, specify an ampersand in the body of the edit word. You can define edit words to insert characters (such as decimal points, commas, currency symbols, and credit balance indicators), to suppress leading zeros, and to provide asterisk fill protection.

Edit mask EDTMSK (Input-only)
Specifies an edit mask for the field. When the program displays a field with this keyword, the program protects the field's user-specified areas.

An edit mask comprises of two characters: an ampersand and a blank. The ampersand represents a protected part of the field. A blank represents an unprotected part of the field. The length of the edit mask must equal the display length of the field (after editing). The number of unprotected positions must at least equal the program length of the field. This is only valid if the field contains the EDTWRD or EDTMSK keywords and is usage B.

Note:
You must be careful to protect only non-numeric data because the program does not return protected data.

Source reference page

The Reference page contains information about the definition of another field that is located in this file as well as information about the field in the current file.

Record
Specifies the name of the record which contains the field you want referred.

Reference field
Specifies the name of the field in this file you want referred.

New name
Specifies a new name for the reference field in the current file.

Usage
Displays the usage for the selected field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.
Specifies the field usage specification as message.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Source reference page

The Reference page contains information about the definition of another field that is located in this file as well as information about the field in the current file.

Reference field
Specifies the name of the field in this file you want referred.

New name
Specifies a new name for the reference field in the current file.

Alias name
Specifies an alternative name which can be used in the high level language program to refer to this field. The alias can be up to 30 characters long.

Key
Specifies if this is a key field.

Allow NULL values (ALWNULL)
Allows null values for this field. If you specify ALWNULL for this field and also define it as a key field, the OS/400 program will include null values when determining duplicate key values.

If you specify the DFT keyword with the null value option, you must also specify ALWNULL.

Database reference page

The Reference page contains information about the definition of a field that is located in another database file as well as information about the field in the current file.

Library
Specifies the location of the database file from where you select database reference fields.

File
Specifies the name of the database file from where you select database reference fields.

Record
Specifies the name of the record in the database file you want referred.

Field
Specifies the name of the database reference field.
Note:
If you do not know the database name of the fields you want to reference, click on Browse to bring a dialog. This dialog allows you to search for the AS/400 library, file, and record name lists.

New name
Specifies a new name for the reference field in the current file.

Usage
Displays the usage for the selected field.
Specifies the field usage specification as input.
Specifies the field usage specification as output.
Specifies the field usage specification as both input and output.
Specifies the field usage specification as hidden.
Specifies the field usage specification as program-to-system.
Specifies the field usage specification as message.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Database reference page

The Reference page contains information about the definition of a field that is located in another database file as well as information about the field in the current file.

Library
Specifies the location of the database file where you select database reference fields.

File
Specifies the name of the database file where you select database reference fields.

Record
Specifies the name of the record in the database file you want referenced.

Field
Specifies the name of the database reference field.
Note:
If you do not know the database name of the fields you want to reference, click on Browse to bring up a dialog. This dialog allows you to search for the AS/400 library, file, and record name lists.

New name
Specifies a new name for the reference field in the current file.

Override page

The Override page lets you change the property attributes of the referenced field.

Note:
The Length fields do not appear for date, time, or timestamp fields.

Length
Specifies the total field length as well as the number of decimals for binary, zoned decimal, packed decimal, and floating-point fields.

Total
Specifies the total length depending on the field type you select. The following is a list of maximum lengths for a field type:

Hexadecimal
Up to 32 766 bytes

Zoned decimal
Up to 31 digits

Packed decimal
Up to 31 digits

Binary
Up to 9 digits
Note:
For variable-length fields the maximum lengths are 26 bytes (or 13 DBCS characters) less than those listed above. For null-capable fields, the maximum lengths are 1 byte (or 1 DBCS character) less than those listed above.

Dec
Valid only for binary, zoned-decimal, packed-decimal, and floating-point fields. The number of decimals must be less than or equal to the number you specified in Total.

Variable length
Specifies this field as a variable-length field. The program generates the VARLEN keyword.

Allocated length
Specifies the number of bytes that are allocated for the field in the fixed portion of the file. Variable-length fields are useful for improving storage when the data for the field typically fits within a certain length, but can occasionally be longer.
Note:
The allocated length must be less than or equal to the value you specify in the spin button. If you do not select an allocated length, the program stores the data for this field in the variable length portion of the file.

For date fields, the following fields will appear:

Date format
Specifies the date format for the date field.

Data separator
Specifies a date separator for the following date formats: MDY, DMY, YMD, JUL, or JOB. The program uses DATSEP to override the job attribute for a date field. It does not change the system default.
Note:
These keywords will be removed if you override to a different type.

For time fields, the following fields will appear:

Time format
Specifies the time format for the time field.

Time separator
Specifies a time separator for the time format HMS. The program uses TIMSEP to override the job attribute for a time field. It does not change the system default.
Note:
These keywords will be removed if you override to a different type.

Type
Specifies the type of field.
Character
Hexadecimal
Zoned decimal
Packed decimal
Binary
Float single
Float double
DBCS only
DBCS either
DBCS open
DBCS graphic
Date
Time
Timestamp

Keyboard shift
Specifies the REFSHIFT keyword. When an input-capable DSPF field references this database field it will pick up the shift specified here. This will limit what the workstation user can type into that field. The possible field shifts are:
X
Alphabetic
A
Alphanumeric
N
Numeric shift
S
Signed numeric
Y
Numeric only
I
Inhibit keyboard
D
Digits only
M
Numeric only character
W
Katakana

Description
Briefly describes the referenced field and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

CCSID
Enables data conversion between different relational database management systems (DBMS) products. For example, you can create an application at one location and run against a database at a different location.
Identifier
Specifies the 5-digit coded character set identifier (CCSID) for the character field.
Field display length
Controls the number of characters that are displayed on the screen.

Default value
Specifies a default value for the field.

The default value of the field is the null value.

The default value of the field is the specified string.

The default value of the field is the specified hexadecimal number.

The default value of the field is the specified number.

Override page

The Override page lets you change the property attributes of the referenced field.

Length
Specifies the total field length as well as the number of decimals for numeric and floating-point fields.

Total
Specifies the total length depending on the field type you select. The following is a list of maximum lengths for a field type:

Numeric
Up to 31 digits

Character
Up to 32 766 characters

Floating single
Up to 9 digits

Floating double
Up to 17 digits

DBCS only, DBCS either, DBCS open
Up to 32 766 bytes (must be an even number)

DBCS graphic
Up to 16 383 DBCS characters.

Dec
Valid only for floating-point fields. The number of decimals must be less than or equal to the number you specified in Total.

Continued (CNTFLD) (DSPF only)
Specifies this field as a continued-entry field for a display file character field with usage I or B.

Width (DSPF only)
Specifies the width of the continued field.

Type
Specifies the type of field.
Specifies this field as a character output field.
Specifies this field as a zoned decimal field.
Specifies this field as a floating-point field.
Specifies this field as a DBCS field.
Specifies this field as a date field.
Specifies this field as a time field.
Specifies this field as a timestamp field.

Keyboard shift
Specifies the keyboard shift attribute to limit what the workstation user can type into a field. The possible field shifts are:
X
Alphabetic
A
Alphanumeric
N
Numeric shift
S
Signed numeric
Y
Numeric only
I
Inhibit keyboard
D
Digits only
M
Numeric only character
W
Katakana

Editing keywords (DLTEDT)
Deletes any inherited EDTCDE or EDTWRD keywords from the referenced field.

Validity checking keywords (DLTCHK)
Deletes all inherited validity checking keywords from the referenced field. The following is a list of validity checking keywords:
CHECK(M10)
CHECK(M10F)
CHECK(M11F)
CHECK(VN)
CHECK(VNE)
CHKMSGID
COMP(EQ)
COMP(NE)
COMP(LE)
COMP(LT)
COMP(NL)
COMP(GE)
COMP(GT)
COMP(NG)
RANGE
VALUES

Description
Briefly describes the referenced field and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Original page

The Original page contains information about the characteristics of the referenced field. This page is read-only.

Indicators page

The Indicators page contains any exisiting option indicators for the field or keyword.

You can specify up to nine conditions for a field or keyword. If any of the conditions evaluate to true, the field or keyword will be in effect. Each row of indicators on the page corresponds to a condition.

You can specify up to nine indicators for one condition. Each indicator in the condition must be on (or off if the indicator is prefixed with an N) in order for the condition to evaluate to true. Each set of two entry fields in a row corresponds to an indicator in that condition.

The yellow entry field is for specifying the indictor prefix and allows only N or a blank. The white entry field is for specifying the indicator name and can be any 2-digit number from 01 to 99.

The following push buttons are available on the Indicators page:

Apply
Saves the entries made to this page.

Reset
Resets the entries on this page to the last applied settings.

Basics page

The Basics page contains information about the message constant field.

Message ID
Specifies the message ID of the field.

Length
Specifies the length of the field. The message will be truncated to this length.

Library
Specifies the location of the message file on the host.

File
Specifies the message file on the host.
Note:
If you do not know the message filename, click on Browse to bring up a dialog. This dialog allows you to search for the AS/400 library, file, and message ID lists.

Position (DSPF)
Indicates the column and row position for this field for different display sizes on the screen.

Position (PRTF)

Absolute records

Row
Specifies the row position of the field.
Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.

Relative records

Column
Specifies the number of relative or absolute columns.
Relative column
Specifies the number of columns (+nn) between the last character in the field to the left and the first character in your field. The numbers will be determined using the SKIP and SPACE keywords.
Absolute column
Specifies the column number (nn) of the first character in the field.
SKIPB
Skips to a specific line number before the first field is printed.
SPACEB
Spaces a number of lines before the first field is printed.
SPACEA
Spaces a number of lines after the last field is printed.
SKIPA
Skips to a specific line number after the last field is printed.

Description
Briefly describes the message constant and stores this information in the TEXT keyword.

Styles page

The Styles page contains all existing named settings for this object's style. CODE Designer provides two types of styles: Installation defaults, which are the initial settings that are shipped with the product; and Creation defaults, which the program uses to create a new object. Initially the creation defaults are the same style settings as the installation defaults, but you can change them. You can also create, delete and rename user-defined styles for this object type. You can use styles to remember a certain set of properties and apply it to other objects of the same type. Use Create or Redefine to remember the current state of the object's properties, and use Reset To to restore that state to any object of this type.

Name
Specifies a title for the style you want to create.

Create
Creates a new style by using the current object's properties.

Reset to
Changes the object's properties to the selected style.

Redefine
Changes the selected style to be the object's properties.

Rename
Changes the name of the selected style to the name that is typed in the entry field.

Delete
Removes this style.

MAPVAL page

The MAPVAL page allows you to map field data to a different value during input and output operations. A new page is added which allows you to specify a mapping between the values that appear on the screen and what the program sees.

During an output operation, the program compares field data to each program value on the MAPVAL keyword in the order in which the program values are specified. For the first match that is found, the corresponding system value replaces the current field data. If a match does not exist, the field data does not change.

During an input operation, the program compares field data to each system value on the MAPVAL keyword in the order in which the system values are specified. For the first match that is found, the corresponding program value replaces the current field data. If a match does not exist, the field data remains the same.

You can specify the Program Value or the System Value either as explicit values, or as:

*BLANK
Indicates field data that is composed of all blanks.

*CUR
Indicates that the date, time, or timestamp makes up the current field data, depending on the data type of the field.

Add
Adds a program and system value to the list of values.

Delete
Removes the selected program and system value from the list of values.

To edit the text in the Program Value or System Value fields, perform the following:

  1. Select an entry by highlighting it.
  2. Click on a selected entry to edit it. A combo box appears which contains the two constants, the format that specific values need be entered in, and any previous valid entries for this entry.
  3. Type in the new values and press Enter.

Key page

The Key page allows you to change the configuration of a key field.

Sequence
Retrieves data records with the smallest key values (Ascending) or largest key values (Descending) first.

No Alternative sequence (NOALTSEQ)
Specifies that the ALTSEQ keyword specified at the file-level does not apply to this key field.

Numeric sorting
Specifies the criteria that affect the order in which to sequence data records in a database file member. You can only specify the criteria that are applicable to the datatype of the key field. Select one of the following keywords:

Digit
Valid only for character, hexadecimal, or zoned-decimal fields. The program only uses each byte's digit portion to sequence the data records.

Signed
Valid only for zoned-decimal, packed-decimal, floating-point, or binary fields.

The OS/400 program will consider the signs of the key values (negative versus positive) when sequencing the data records.

Zone
Valid only for character, hexadecimal, or zoned-decimal fields. The program only uses each byte's zone portion to sequence the data records.

Unsigned
Valid for all data types.

The OS/400 program will consider the key values as a string of unsigned binary data when sequencing the data records. Character and hexadecimal fields default to unsigned values.

Absolute Value
Valid only for zoned-decimal, packed-decimal, floating-point, or binary fields.

The OS/400 program will ignore the signs of the key values when sequencing the data records.

COLHDG page

The COLHDG page allows you to create or change column headings for the field. Column headings serve as the labels for the fields. For example, you can choose to use them when you create a display that refers to this field.

Type the column headings for the field in this notebooks entry fields. Each field represents one line of heading, and it can contain as many as 20 characters.

Validity Check page

The Validity Check page appears on named fields with alphanumeric, zoned, packed or binary type. This page encapsulates the CHECK, COMP, RANGE, VALUES, and CHKMSGID keywords.

Allow blank
Adds or removes the Allows Blanks keyword. This keyword allows input fields to be blanks.

Mandatory enter
Adds or removes the Mandatory Enter keyword. This keyword specifies that the user must type at least one character of data (a blank is valid) into the field.

Mandatory fill
Adds or removes the Mandatory Fill keyword. This keyword specifies that if any part of the field is altered, each position in the field must have a character entered in it. Blanks are valid characters.

Modulus algorithm
Adds or removes the Modulus Algorithm keyword. This keyword specifies that the data typed into the field must satisfy one of the modulus self-check algorithms. From the drop-down list, specify either M10, M10F, M11, or M11F.

Validate name
Adds or removes the Validate Name keyword. Select Normal to specify that the data typed into the field must be a valid simple name. The first character must be $, #, @, or A through Z. The remaining characters must be alphanumeric ($, #, @, _, A through Z, or 0 through 9), and must not contain embedded blanks. Select Extended to specify that the data typed into the field must be a valid quoted name.

Comparison
Adds or removes the COMP keyword. This keyword compares the data that the user types into an input or output/input field with the value you specify for this keyword. Select a comparison operator and type in the comparison value. The value can be either numeric or character, depending on the data type. Valid numeric values are digits 0 through 9 plus a leading sign (+ or -) and a decimal point. Numeric comparisons align the decimal point accordingly. :p.For DBCS-graphic fields, type G followed by the DBCS constant enclosed in single quotes (for example, G'AB').

Range
Adds or removes the RANGE keyword. This keyword specifies that the OS/400 program is to perform validity checking on the data that the user types in. This check is performed only if the field is changed by the user or if its modified data tag (MDT) is set on using DSPATR(MDT). Specify the lowest and highest values for the comparison. The data typed in must be greater than or equal to the lower value, and less than or equal to the higher value.

Value
Adds or removes the VALUES keyword. This keyword lets you specify a list of values that the user can type into this field. You can specify from 1 to 100 values. You can specify a numeric or a character value. A numeric value contains digits 0 through 9 and can be preceded by a minus sign.

Add
Adds a new value of '?' to the list of values. You can then select and click again to change it to the desired value.

Delete
Removes a value, which you selected from the list, for this field.

Ascending order
Sorts all values in ascending order and saves the sorted values.

Error message Identifier
Lets you specify the error message that will be issued when a validity check error is detected in the field. The error message you specify can be any existing message in a message file. To identify the error message you want, specify its corresponding message identifier.

Library
Specify the library that contains the error message file. If you do not specify the library, the library list (*LIBL) is used to find the message file.

File
Specify the message file that contains the error message.

Replacement text field
Specifies the name of the field that contains the message replacement text to be displayed. The displayed error message will have the text from the specified program-to-system field substituted into it.