HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
Objectives
When you have completed this lesson, you will have learned:
* The characteristics of field specifications
* How to use the field specifications screen to specify fields
What is a Field Specification?
A dictionary field specification is a template that defines the
characteristics of a "field." A field is a data item that can exist on a
file, a screen, or a report. A field specification defines the
attributes such as name, length, and type, of a field used throughout the
application. A field on any file, screen, or report can refer to a field
specification in the dictionary.
When you make a change to a field specification, the changes propagate
through the application to all screens, reports and file definitions.
HP ALLBASE/4GL allows you to define the following field specification
parameters:
* The field specification name.
* Whether the field specification is secured or not.
* How long the field is, and whether it is repeated or not.
* If the field has a minimum entry length.
* What the edit code of the field is, and how it is justified.
* What pad character is used for the field.
* If there are any decimal places associated with the field.
* If a numeric field is displayed as blank when it only contains
zeros.
* How data is physically stored in a field.
* How data entered for the field is validated.
HP ALLBASE/4GL allows you to define help screens for the fields you are
specifying and enter descriptive documentation that will be helpful when
you review your application.
Now it is time to sign on to the HP ALLBASE/4GL application.