Field Data Form

The field data form is used to create and manage all fields. The table fields already created during model definition are entered and can be modified. Additionally mask-only-fields without any relation to the database table can be created. The sub-lists inform about the usage of fields in database tables or masks and allow the modification of table field or mask field attributes.


In the Field Data form you can:


Sublists

Mask Assignment
Mask Default
Database Attributes


Fields and Functions in the Header Form

Field Name name of the field
Type data type of field
Format data format of the field
Field Title title of the field in masks
Description description of the field
Check String check string for checking the field entry
Default Value default value of the field for newly created records
Multilinguality multilingual flag

Field Name

Name of the field

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, no special characters, specification required
max. no. of characters 50
selection tool no
multilingual field no

The field's name identifies it uniquely.

Note! A field that already is represent as an object its name can no longer be changed. To do this, you need to delete the field record and create it again


Fields

Syntax:

TABLENAME.COLUMNNAME
for table fields

COLUMNNAME (no period)
only for mask fields


Mask placeholder

You can use placeholders to insert mask components into a parent mask.

Syntax:

@MASKNAME

The name of the component itself (the mask's name) is shown in the menu field.

Type

Data type and length of a field

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string
max. no. of characters 6
selection tool all available field types
multilingual field no

Note! The data type and the length of a table field or view field that already is assigned on a table respectively on a view you can only change in the Table Field sublist.

Syntax:

TYPE and LENGTH, without a separating space, e.g. S

Entry:

B -> Binary
BLOB (Binary Large Object) field. This type of field can hold binary data directly, and its length need not (cannot) be defined a priori.

More information: -> BLOB fields

C -> Calculation
Calculation field. These fields display database independent information in masks, and are only considered when the model object creates its default masks.

More information: -> Calculation fields

D -> Date
Date fields can hold dates and times, e.g. .. ::. The date format (nationality) for masks can be set using the default variable DATEFORMAT, and the database format depends on the attached database itself. The field length cannot be predetermined (although the internal default is bytes).

More information: -> Date fields

F -> Real
Real fields hold fixed-point decimal numbers, e.g. 0. or -0.. The default is F.3 ( = places before the point, 3 = places after the point), and the data can also be displayed exponentially, e.g. 3.e-2. You can enter data using a decimal point or comma, and this will be auto-corrected.

I -> Integer
E.g. 0 oder -0. The default is I.

L -> Logical
Field of the Boolean type. It can only take the values ON, OFF or EMPTY. No length specification is possible.

M -> Money
Money fields hold values as currency, e.g. $0.. The default is M,2 ( = places before the point, 2 = places after the point). You can enter data using a decimal point or comma, and this will be auto-corrected.

S -> String
You can enter text into string fields in 8-Bit ASCII format. The default is S. String fields longer than 255 characters are defined as longtext fields.

More information: -> Longtext fields

The system's default lengths are applied when you leave the field, and you can also use default variables to set your own defaults.

Format

Data format

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, entry optional
max. no. of characters 2
selection tool no
multilingual field no

Entry:

fortype F -> Real and type M (money)
(empty) display left-justified

- -> display Real flush-right
-n -> display Real flush-right with n digits after the point

for type I -> Integer
(empty) display left-justified

- -> display Integer flush-right

Note! It is possible that field content are not visible on flush-right, when a virtual length is defined.

Example: Type definition in table field relation -> F.4, format definition here -> -3. result is the display xxxxxx.xxxx in the database table and the flush-right display xxxxxx.xxx in masks (last digit not displayed).

Field Title

Title of the field in masks

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, entry optional
max. no. of characters 50
selection tool no
multilingual field yes

Field titles are crucial in integrating graphics and images into forms.


Field Titles

In lists, the title is a field's column label, displayed in the lists header. In forms, the title can be positioned anywhere relative to the field.

More information: -> Field titles


Graphics (forms only)

When you use this field in forms, you can insert a graphic or image as a label and use it to help design the form.

Entry for the type of graphic:

@RECT
creates a rectangle

@CIRC
creates an ellipse

@LINE
creates a line

You can also set the stroke width of a line or outline.

Entry for the border style:

SOLID
simple lines

BUMP
3D embossed

HOLE
3D engraved

DITCH
edge only engraved

RIDGE
edge only embossed

Example: for a raised rectangle, enter @RECT2BUMP

More information: -> Graphics and images in forms


Images (forms only)

An image is displayed in place of the field title.

Syntax:

#filename

More information: -> Graphics and images in forms

Description

Verbose description of a fiel

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, entry optional
max. no. of characters 50
selection tool no
multilingual field yes

When users are editing a record and the cursor enters a field, its verbose description appears in the mask's footer. You should use the description to characterized the field in more detail or warn of potential invalid data.

Check String

String for checking the field entry

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, entry optional
max. no. of characters 50
selection tool no
multilingual field no

You can use check strings to check the syntax of the data entered into a field, e.g. whether an article number complies with certain conventions. Check strings consist of a series of check characters.

Check characters:

0
The character entered will be changed into a space character. If the position is pre-assigned by a character (Default value), this character is fixed to the position. If the pre-assigned value is shorter than the check pattern, a space character will be entered.

a
Capitals automatically changed to lower case, any character permitted.

A
Lower case automatically capitalized, any character permitted.

I
Capitals automatically changed to lower case, no special characters.

L
Lower case automatically capitalized, no special characters.

N
Only numerical characters.

X
X represents any fixed character. Any character entered will be automatically changed into the fixed character specified here. This process is case-sensitive, irrespective of whether the user presses the Shift key or not. Special characters are allowed.
With \X the meaning of check characters cease. They become regular characters and can be used as fixed characters.

>[check character]
Placing > in front of a check character requires that every character after the position of the check character complies with the check character. The check character ">0" (even as a sub-string) is illegal.

Attention! The check string may not contain spaces followed by further check characters.

More information: -> Check string for field entries

Default Value

Provides a field with a default value for when a record is created.

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string, entry optional
max. no. of characters 50
selection tool no
multilingual field no

If the field is used in a mask, DataView automatically enters the default whenever a user creates a new record. The user may or may not be able to alter the default, depending on the field's access status.

Entry:

@DEFAULT
references a variable in the Default Data list. DataView writes the variable's value into the field, allowing it to be set independently of the user

@USER
enters the current user into the field

@GROUP
enters the current group into the field

@TODAY
enters the current date into the field - which must be of type DATE

Filename
Default graphic file for BLOB fields. This is the graphic displayed in forms if the database BLOB field is empty. The default graphic file must be stored in a folder on the server. The path may also be given.

More information: -> Automatically filling fields

Multilinguality

Multilingual field

attribute master attribute for field (T_FIELD)
type, entry string,display only
max. no. of characters 40
selection tool no
multilingual field yes

Displays available languages.