1.1.5 Char
A Char is a fixed-length character field, with a length between 1 and 65,535. (This is the byte length, not the number of characters.) Char fields with lengths of 256 or less are equivalent to the existing Alpha field.
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. |
Usage Notes
- 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.
Platform Considerations
- 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.
Also See