Defining Input Field Attributes

Use this procedure to define input field attributes.

To define input field attributes

  1. On the Format form, define an input field.

    - or -

    Select an existing input field and press Input (F2).

    The Form Input Field Definition window appears with the field name, field type, and index key displaying.

    The fields that appear depend on the type of input field you are defining.

    To scroll through field definitions (both input and output), press Next (F7).

  2. Change the desired field attributes.
    In this field Type or Select (F4)
    Size The value of this field comes from the database definition of the field. You can change the value for the form. If you decrease a field size, the form truncates the value of the field. For more information, see the Size field description in Online Field Attributes.
    Required

    Yes to require the user to type data in the field.

    No to prevent the user from typing data in the field.
    Lead Zeroes

    Blank to display blanks if the value of the field is zero.

    * (Asterisk) to display asterisks in place of leading zeroes.

    Suppress to suppress display of leading zeroes.

    Display to display leading zeroes.
    Justified

    Applies only to alpha and alpha-lower fields.

    Left to make the field left-justified. A left-justified field is one in which you type data from the left.

    Right to make the field right-justified. A right-justified field is one in which you type data from the right.
    Occurs

    Display only. Applies only to array fields.

    The number of times the array field occurs.
    Secured

    Yes to hide the value of the input field. Users cannot access or view the value of a secured field, but the program can.

    No to display the value of the input field.
    Numeric Sign

    Yes to display the sign on a signed field.

    No to hide the sign on a signed field.
    Protected

    Applies only to input fields.

    Yes to prevent users from typing data in the field.

    No to allow users to type data in the field.
    Condition

    Applies only to condition select fields.

    = , ≠,>,≥,<, or ≤.

    For more information, see the Condition Select field description in Painting Fields on a Form - Input Field Types. For instructions on defining a condition select field, see Defining an Input Field.
    Key Nbr

    A three-character field that lets a program transfer information from a field on one form to a field on another form. The two fields should be the same type and size for transfer to work properly.

    If a key number was defined for the field during Key Number Definition, the system puts that key number in this field.

    If the field is blank, type or select an existing key number. The key number must be valid.

    To define a new key number, see Defining Key Numbers. For more information about key numbers, see the Key Numbers field description in Online Field Attributes.
    Values

    Valid values for the field you are defining.

    If the field you are defining has a database value list, this edit list must be a subset of the value list defined in the database.

    To define a range of values, type the beginning value for the range, press Range (F8), then type the ending value for the range.
    Default

    The default value of the field.

    If the field has a default value in the database definition and you type a value in this field, this value overrides the default value in the database.

    If you defined an edit list for this field, the default value must be a subset of the edit list. Signed fields and fields longer than fifteen bytes cannot have a default value.
    Translation

    The translation for the field value.

    If the field values have a database translation, the translation entered here must be a subset of the translation defined in the database.
  3. Press OK.

    The field appears on the Format form.

    To label or move the field, see Labeling, Moving, and Deleting Fields..

  4. Press OK twice to save the form.

    The system saves the form and returns to the Database Structure-Program Structure form.