Setting up extension fields

You setup extension fields in the Extensions tab of the Symbol form.

  • Most extension fields are filled from drop-lists and lookups. Decide how the field should look.
  • Use lookups for long lists or if you are uncertain of the length of the list. Lookups can be filtered through sets.
  • A value of unused in a drop-list indicates that it is reserved for future implementation.

Use the values as described in this table.

Field Value Description
Input No. System Number Identifies the field in the table.
Input Code Field Name Name of the field that is to be validated. This field can be seen in the Validation form. If nothing is specified in the Input Label column, this name is used on the Extensions tab of the form.

There must be at least one alphabetical letter in the name.

Avoid the underscore (_) if you plan to export extension fields to a spreadsheet where underscore (_) is a reserved character.

DB Name Database Name Name of the column that is stored in the database. Must be a valid SQL name. Use only alphanumeric characters and underscore (_), no spaces. Must begin with an alpha character.

We recommend prefixing all customization with "C_" to indicate a custom entry.

If the entries for this column are multiple values, the DB name must have no more than 20 characters.

Dep Field Dependent Field The Field No value. Currently, the default value of 0 by default does not change even if the value for this field must be derived from a dependent field.

See Creating a field derived from another field’s value and Filtering derived fields.

Data Type 2 integer

3 long

5 double

7 date

8 string

9 object

29 auto descrip (For web client only)

Type of data, such as string, integer, or date for single value attributes.

Select from the drop-list. Date invokes a calendar lookup. Use date-type fields for dates; do not use string-type.

For multi-value attributes, specify 8 string. The Enum Style determines multi-value attribute types.

To retrieve a description from a lookup for another extension field, specify 29 autodescrip.

Data Length Number Number of characters for string extension fields. If the entries for this column are multiple (extended) values, the data length is restricted to 70 characters.

The length of numbers and dates is determined by Data Type.

Read Only 0 false

1 read only

2 no entry

3 both

Specify if the field is editable. To allow users to enter values, specify 0 false.
Required 0 not required

1 required

2 set blank string to NULL

Specify if the field is required or optional. If you specify 1 required, users see an error message when they try to delete a value from the field and leave the field blank. Otherwise, save the object without a value for the required extension field.
Case Force 0 no forcing

1 unused

2 lower

3 upper

Specify if the field should be forced to uppercase or lowercase. Select from the drop-list.

unused = not available

Set Ind 0 none

1 minmax

2 enumeration

3 unused

Distinguish between minmax (i.e., validated range) and enumeration validated fields.
  • If this field uses neither, specify 0.
  • If this field uses a lookup, specify 0.
  • If this field uses a drop-list, specify 2.
  • unused = not available
Call Ind 0 none

1 callback

2 key

3 unused

Use this column to indicate the type of validation. Select from the drop-list. Callback calls the server object. Key validates against the key (i.e., symbol) that is entered in the Key Check column.

unused = not available

Enum Ind 0 none

1 enum query

2 lookup code

3 enum val list

If users are going to select values from an enumerated list, select the type of list. Queries use 1 enum query. Lookups use 2 lookup code. Enumerated lists that are created in the Enumerated List form use 3 enum val list.

Values not listed in this table are reserved for future implementation.

Enum Style 0 none

1 lookup

2 drop list

3 date

5 derived

6 filtered

7 check box

10 Multi-value

11 Multi-value lookup

12 Multi-value drop list

13 Multi-value date

16 Multi-value filtered

Select a style of enumeration. "Multi-value" indicates that the user may select multiple values. For single, manually entered values, select 3 for date format and 0 for non-date. For multiple, manually entered values select 13 for date format and 10 for non-dates.

For derived fields (5), see Creating a field derived from another field’s value.

For Derived fields, you can just use Drop List. Do not use Multi-value Drop List.

For Filtered fields, you can use Multi-value Filtered; the Enum Style is either Filtered or Multi-value Filtered. See Filtering derived fields.

For Data Type = auto descrip, the Enum Style droplist entries default to Input No. of all single value Extension Lookup fields. The selection here indicates the source field for this Extension description field.
Key Check Symbol name (i.e., type of object) Validate against an existing key. The Call Ind column must be 2 key.
Char Check 0 none

1 alpha all

2 alpha no punc

3 digits

Specify if the types of characters should be validated as characters or numbers.

2 is currently not implemented.

Enum Code Enumeration list code Select an enumerated code if Enum Ind is 3 enum val list. Enum Style is 2 drop list or 12 extended drop list.

You must create this list before you can select it. Or use an existing one.

See Creating additional enumerated lists.

Enum Query Enumeration query code Select a query if Enum Ind is 1 enum query. Enum Style is 2 drop list or 12 extended drop list.

You must create this query before you can select it. Or use an existing query that is in FsQuery and has an ENUM prefix. See your Implementation Consultant for more information on creating a query.

Lookup Code Lookup code Select a lookup code if Enum Ind is 2 lookup code. Enum Style is 1 lookup or 11 extended lookup.

You must create this lookup before you can select it. Or, use an existing one. See Deleting codes in the Symbol form.

Enum Label 0 none

1 lang dependent

Specify if the extension field is language dependent. Select from the drop-list. If you select 1 and the enumeration contains values classified by language code, those values are displayed according to the user’s language code.
Min Val Number If Set Ind is 1 minmax, establish a minimum allowable value for the extension field.
Max Val Number If Set Ind is 1 minmax, establish a maximum allowable value for the extension field.
Format Code # and . Specify how to format displayed numbers according to the VBA Format function.
Input Label Field label The label that is displayed in the user interface.
Search Ind 0 - Not Searchable

1 - Searchable

2 - Searchable - Using SubCode

Specify whether the extension field is visible in the Search page. See Adding extension fields and table columns.
Search Style 0 - Standard

1 - Range

2 - Multi-Select

Specify the format for the searchable column. (This column is not relevant if the Search Ind value is Not Searchable.)

See Adding extension fields and table columns.