1.1.2 Alpha
Alpha fields are used to store character type data up to a maximum of 256 characters in length.
Data may be SBCS, mixed SBCS and DBCS, or DBCS-only. Only the current native codepage is supported.
Alpha fields are classified as strings.
An Alpha does not treat trailing blanks as significant. They are truncated before concatenation and comparison.
Please review the general 1.1.1 Field Type Considerations.
Field Definition Rules
Rules for defining an Alpha field in the repository are:
|
Length |
Must be 1 to 256 in length. No decimals. |
|
Valid Keyboard Shift |
Blanks, X, A, N, I, D, M, O, E, J, or W. |
|
Allowed Attributes |
Null values are not allowed. |
|
Edit Mask |
Not allowed. |
|
Default |
Spaces. |
Usage Rules
|
Partition Type |
RDML and RDMLX Partitions. |
|
Files |
RDML and RDMLX Files. Alpha fields may be used as real fields or keys. |
|
Logical Views |
Alpha fields may be used as keys to logical views. |
|
Virtual Fields |
Alpha fields may be used with Substring, Concatenation or Date Virtual Fields. |
|
Predetermined Join Fields |
Alphas may be used for lookup predetermined joined fields. |
|
Built-In Functions |
When used in Built-In Functions, Alpha fields are valid for arguments of type 'A'. |
|
Conversion |
Refer to Field Type Conversions. |
Platform Considerations
- Refer to Platform Considerations in 1.1.1 Field Type Considerations.
Also See