Defining user-defined elements

An element defines the maximum number of characters and the data type for an attribute value. You must assign an element to every attribute and the element must exist before you can define an attribute that uses that element.

An element is Lawson-defined or user-defined. These are the types of elements that you can define:

  • Alpha type (up to 32 characters)

  • Numeric type (up to 18 characters)

  • Date type (8 characters)

Complete these steps to define user-defined elements:

  1. Access Attribute (MX00.1).
  2. Select Define (F6) in the Element field to open Element (MX00.2).
  3. Specify a name and description that describes the element. The element name does not have to match the attribute name, since several attributes can use the element. Use these guidelines to specify the field values:
    Data Type

    Select from one of these types of data used to define the attribute value:

    • Alpha to define attribute values with both letters and numbers.

    • Numeric to only define the attribute values with numbers.

    • Date to define the attribute values as a date. Valid date formats are: yyyymmdd, mmddyyyy, and mm/dd/yy.

    • Signed Numeric displays for Lawson-defined attributes only. You cannot select this option for user-defined attributes.

    Field Size

    Specify the number of characters used to represent attribute values.

    Alpha cannot exceed 32 characters

    Numeric cannot exceed 18 characters

    Date cannot exceed 8 characters.

    Note: Once values are defined for the attribute, the field size cannot be changed.
  4. Add the element by selecting the Add form action.

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To Use
List elements Element Listing (MX200)
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