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Char fields store alpha data that is either SBCS, mixed SBCS and DBCS, or DBCS-only. Chars are classified as strings.
Depending on the database type, Char may or may not treat trailing blanks as significant. If trailing blanks are not desired, a String field should be used.
Please review the general 1.1.1 Field Type Considerations.
Field Definition Rules
Rules for defining a Char field in the repository are:
Length | Chars may be 1 to 65,535 in length. Chars have no decimals. |
|---|---|
Valid Keyboard Shift | Blanks, O, E, J or W. |
Allowed Attributes | AB, ASQN, CS, DDNN, FE, FUNC, FUNU, FUNX, JNMC, JNMU, JNMX, JNRC, JNRU, JNRX, LC, ND, PROC, PROU, PROX, RA, RB, RL, RLTB, SREV, SUNI, USRC, USRU, USRX. |
Edit Mask | Not allowed. |
Default | *NULL |
Usage Rules
Partition Type | |
|---|---|
Files | Chars may only be used in RDMLX Files. Chars may be used as real or key fields. If used as keys, length must be no more than 4000 bytes. |
Logical Views | Chars may be used as key fields. If used as keys, length must be less than 4000 bytes. |
Virtual Fields | Chars may be used with Code Fragment Virtual Fields. |
Predetermined Join Fields | Chars may be used for lookup predetermined joined fields. |
RDML Commands | DEF_HEAD, DEF_FOOT, DEF_BREAK, and DEF_LINE only support printing of RDML fields. Therefore, Char fields need to be converted to Alpha to be used in reports. |
Built-In Functions | When used in Built-In Functions, Chars are valid for arguments of type 'A'. |
Special Values | *NULL, *NAVAIL, *REMEMBERED_VALUE |
Conversion | Refer to Field Type Conversions . |
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- Working fields defined with TYPE(*CHAR) where the field length is 256 or less should operate similarly to alpha fields.
- Fields of type String or Char and length of 256 or less may be used almost anywhere that fields of type Alpha may be used.
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- Refer to Platform Considerations in 1.1.1 Field Type Considerations.
Tips & Techniques
- If a field is a fixed character length of 256 or less, use an Alpha field.
- If you want trailing blanks to be significant, use a String field.