This dialog box is displayed when you double-click a variable of a transaction template in the work space of the Screen layout manager.
It is used to display or modify all the characteristics of this variable.
Displayed data
Format
Format of the line on which the variable is located.
Line
Column
Location of the first character of the variable.
Data entry
Name
Name of the variable.
This name must be a valid variable name (as defined by IBM).
If this field is not filled-in, the system retains the short name when the dialog box is validated.
This field is protected when the variable is a system variable (time, date, program name, etc.).
Description
Description clearly identifying the variable.
Length: 50 characters maximum.
This field is protected when the variable is a system variable (time, date, program name, etc.).
Short name
Short name of the variable.
This name must be a valid short name (as defined by IBM).
Length: 10 characters maximum.
This field is protected when the variable is a system variable (time, date, program name, etc.).
Mandatory entry.
Length
Length of the variable.
A numeric variable can have 63 digits maximum.
An alphanumeric variable can have a maximum length which will fit it entirely in the transaction (79 or 131 characters, according to the type of screen).
This field is protected when the variable is a system variable (time, date, program name, etc.).
Mandatory entry.
Decimals
For alphanumeric variables this field is empty and protected.
For numeric variables this field can contain a digit from "0" to "63".
This field is protected when the variable is a system variable (time, date, program name, etc.).
Edit word
This field is used to specify the display format of the variable in the form of a "word".
This field can only be accessed for numeric variables.
An edit word cannot be entered if an edit code was selected.
Click here for more details on edit words.
Reference property
This field specifies the conceptual property which the variable refers to.
This name must be a valid reference property name (as defined by IBM).
It must exist in the database of the environment.
If a reference property is specified, by default the variable takes all the characteristics of the reference conceptual property.
Lists
Edit code
This field is used to specify a code corresponding to a display format of the variable. These codes are available in the list box.
If the edit code is "Y" (date), the length of the field must range between 3 to 7 characters.
The variable must entirely fit the screen, while taking into account the edit code or the edit word.
An edit code cannot be selected if an edit word was specified.
Click here for more details on edit codes.
Buttons
Field-level help
This button opens a dialog box which is used to display, create or modify the characteristics of field-level help.
This button is only active if field-level help was authorized at the screen standard level.
Values
This button opens a dialog box which is used to display or modify the values of a variable.
Styles
This button opens a dialog box which is used to display or modify the styles of a variable.
Graphical attributes
This button opens a dialog box which is used to display or modify the graphical attributes of a variable, for PC generation.
Other parameters
This button opens a dialog box which is used to display, create or modify the other parameters.
Enter/Modify (validation)
The Enter button (in display mode) closes the dialog box.
The Modify button (in modification mode) validates the modifications made in the dialog box, as well as the ones made in the following dialog boxes:
Modify the values of a variable,
Modify the styles of a variable,
after a verification of their validity.
The various fields of the dialog box are verified. If all are valid, the variable definition is updated in the database before the dialog box is closed; otherwise, an error message is displayed.
Cancel
In display mode, this button closes the dialog box.
In modification mode, this button closes the dialog box without validating the modifications made in the dialog box, nor the ones made in the following dialog boxes:
Modify the values of a variable,
Modify the styles of a variable,
Keyboard shortcut: Esc.