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:
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:
The Continued field properties notebook allows you to define a multiple-row
entry field inside a rectangle. This notebook contains the following
tabbed pages:
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:
The Time field properties notebook describes information about the time
field. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:
DSPF and PRTF:
PF:
The Timestamp field properties notebook describes information about the
timestamp field. This notebook contains the following tabbed
pages:
DSPF and PRTF:
PF:
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:
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:
The Text constant properties notebook allows you to edit characteristics of
text fields. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:
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:
The Date constant properties notebook describes information about the
system date. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:
The Time constant properties notebook describes information about the
system time. This notebook contains the following tabbed pages:
The User name properties notebook describes information about your
application user's AS/400 name. This notebook contains the
following tabbed pages:
The System name properties notebook describes information about your
application user's AS/400 system name. This notebook contains the
following tabbed pages:
The Page number properties notebook describes information about the page
number constant. This notebook contains the following tabbed
pages:
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
The Original page contains information about the characteristics of the
referenced field. This page is read-only.
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.
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.
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.
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:
- Select an entry by highlighting it.
- 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.
- Type in the new values and press Enter.
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.
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.
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.
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