Access
To display, create or modify the general characteristics of a work variable, you must either:
Select the relevant option from the context-sensitive menu in the 4GL Editor's Input help - Variables dialog box (ADELIA programs only).
Click on the relevant button in the Data environment dialog box in the Question/Answer programming interface.
Data entry
Short name
This short name (the variable's real name) must be unique within the data environment.
It must be no longer than 10 characters.
Compulsory field.
Guide word
Name of the variable used in the Adelia language.
This guide word must be unique within the data environment.
It must be no longer than 128 characters.
Default setting: real name of the variable.
Length
Length of the variable (including decimal positions in the case of numerical variables).
It must be no longer than 5 digits.
The length must in all cases be a positive value, and it MUST be entered if no reference field is specified.
The length for numerical variables cannot exceed 63 digits.
The possible lengths for integer or unsigned integer variables are: 5 positions (0 decimal) or 10 positions (0 decimal).
The length is not visible and predefined for the Date, Time, Timestamp and Pointer types.
Number of decimals
The number of decimal places is stored in one or two positions, and is used to determine the variable type: this will be alphanumerical if the field is blank, otherwise it will be numerical.
This number must not be greater than the length.
Arr. dimension 1
In a dimension one array: number of cells (must not exceed 32767).
In a dimension two array (matrix): number of lines.
It must be no longer than 5 digits.
Arr. dimension 2
In a dimension two array: number of columns.
It must be no longer than 5 digits.
This field must be set to zero (or left blank) with one-dimensional arrays.
It will be ignored (set to zero) if dimension 1 is left blank.
Where both dimensions are set, the product of the two dimensions must be less than or equal to 32767.
Array (Version 4)
This field is used to set the number of cells in a version 4 pseudo-array. This feature has only been included for reasons of compatibility with version 4 of Adelia/400.
To define another array, you must use the "Arr. dimension 1" and "Arr. dimension 2" fields.
It must be no longer than 4 digits.
This field will be ignored (set to zero) if dimension 1 is completed.
Lists
Type
Type of the variable.
Values available:
Alphanumeric
Binary
Date
Integer
Numeric
Pointer
Time
Timestamp
Unsigned integer
Reference
Used to define a variable using a reference field in the data environment. By this means, the variable being defined will retrieve all the characteristics in its reference field. You set the reference field by selecting one of the items in the drop-down list.
There are two special values in this list: "None" and "*NODEF", which can be used to avoid setting a reference - instead requiring the user to input the variable's characteristics.
The value "*NODEF" can be used to inhibit the field's definition in the program, in order to avoid possible conflicts between dual definitions.
Buttons
Enter/Create/Modify (Validation)
The Enter button (in display mode) closes the dialog box.
The Create (in creation mode) or Modify (in modification mode) buttons validate the dialog box.
The various details in the box will be checked. If they are all valid, the work variable's definition will be updated in the database before closing the box; if they are not all valid, an error message will be displayed.
Cancel
Closes the dialog box without validating the choices made.
Keyboard shortcut: Esc.