Values and Translations

A value list, or edit list, is a list of values or ranges of values, and their translations. The value list defines the possible values that a field can have, as well as the meaning (translation) of those values. For example, the valid values for the Sex field are F and M; the translations of these values are Female and Male.

A value list is useful as a means of restricting values in a field to a list of acceptable values. For example, you could use a value list for kinds of dependents to avoid typing longer words, to prevent different descriptions of the same relationship (such as "Father" or "Dad"), and to restrict data to approved options.

At runtime, the system edits the data in a field against its value list. If a field has a value list, you can only use values from the list. You can define values, ranges, and translations only at the field (file) level, not at the element (product line) level. When you define a value list for a field in one file, the same field in another file does not have that value list unless you define it for that file also.

For the procedures for defining values, translations, and ranges, see Defining Values, Defining Translations, and Defining Ranges.