Access
To display, create or modify a parameter or message field, click the corresponding button of the Modify the message/parameter fields dialog box.
Important note: The definition of message fields is not valid for subfile formats.
Data entry
Name
Field guide word.
This name must be a valid field name (as defined by IBM), unique among the names of message/parameter fields.
Length: 15 characters maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Description
Description clearly identifying the field.
Length: 50 characters maximum.
Optional entry.
Short name
Short name for the field.
This name must be a valid short name (as defined by IBM), unique among the parameter/message field short names.
Length: 10 characters maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Length
Field length.
Alphanumeric field: 256 characters maximum.
Numeric field: 30 positions maximum.
Mandatory entry.
Decimals
Number of decimal positions in the field (digit between 0 and 9), for a numeric parameter field.
Note: A message field is always alphanumeric.
Indicator
Conditioning indicator for the field (number between 0 and 99).
Only message fields may have an indicator.
Optional entry.
Radio buttons
Type of use
Click the radio button corresponding to the type of field you wish to define: message field or parameter field.
In the case of a subfile format (parameter field only), these buttons are dimmed and unavailable.
Buttons
Enter/Create/Modify (validation)
The Enter button (in display mode) closes the dialog box.
The Create button (in creation mode) or the Modify button (in modification mode) validates the dialog box.
The various fields of the dialog box are verified. If all are valid, the field definition is updated in the database before the box is closed; otherwise, an error message is displayed.
Cancel
This button closes the dialog box without validating the choices made.
Keyboard shortcut: Esc.