Value Types

For container definitions

Type:	Description:
Alpha:	Alphanumeric combination of characters. Alpha fields always have a fixed length. If a value is assigned that is too large, the trailing characters will be removed. To send literals with ASCII characters to an alpha field, you can either use the character set "#$" or two surrounding @-characters. When a literal is assigned to an alpha field and this literal contains a hexadecimal key (always exactly two digits are expected) that is directly preceded by the character set "#$" or that is surrounded by two @-characters, the ASCII character that is concerned will be written to the specified field. The initiating characters ("#$" or the two @-characters) will be omitted when the literal is moved to the specified field. The max length of an Alpha is 2 Gb = 2147483647 For database fields, the maximum length of an Alpha is 1 GB = 1073741823
Boolean:	Value that is "True" or "False".
Dollar (print layouts):	Same as financial. In a form, this value can for example be displayed as "$99,99CR".
Date:	Conversion method and container for dates. If a date value is assigned to one of the properties, the date is calculated and the result is stored in the remaining properties. If an invalid date is specified, the current date is returned and RESOK is set. When a variable with decimals is assigned to a date variable, the decimals will be ignored in the conversion. Example: startdate : date startdate.ddmmccyy := 27062012 sme('The event starts: ' + startdate.ccyy-mm-dd)
	Format:	Type:	Length:	Example:
	CC	Numeric	2	20
	CCYY	Numeric	4	2004
	CCYY-MM-DD	Alpha	10	2004-05-06
	CCYY-MMM-DD	Alpha	11	2004 MAY 06
	CCYYDDD	Numeric	7	2004127
	CCYYMMDD	Numeric	8	20040506
	CCYYMMMDD	Alpha	9	2004MAY06
	CENTURY	Numeric	2	20
	DAYNUM	Signed	6	038111
	DD	Numeric	2	06
	DD-MM-CCYY	Alpha	10	06-05-2004
	DD-MM-YY	Alpha	8	06-05-04
	DD-MMM-CCYY	Alpha	11	06-MAY-2004
	DD-MMM-YY	Alpha	11	06 MAY 04
	DDMMMCCYY	Alpha	9	06MAY2004
	DDMMMYY	Alpha	7	06MAY04
	DDMMCCYY	Numeric	8	06052004
	DDMMYY	Numeric	6	060504
	IN-ALPHA	Alpha	25	2004 MAY 06
	MM	Numeric	2	05
	MM-DD-CCYY	Alpha	10	05-06-2004
	MM-DD-YY	Alpha	8	05-06-04
	MMDDCCYY	Alpha	8	05062004
	MMDDYY	Alpha	6	050604
	MMM-DD-CCYY	Alpha	11	MAY 06 2004
	MMM-DD-YY	Alpha	9	MAY 06 04
	MMMDDCCYY	Alpha	9	MAY062004
	MMMDDYY	Alpha	7	MAY0604
	MONTHDAYS	Numeric	2	31
	TODAY	Alpha	15	THURSDAY
	UK-ALPHA	Alpha	25	06 MAY 2004
	US-ALPHA	Alpha	25	MAY 06 2004
	WEEKNO	Numeric	2	19
	YY	Numeric	2	04
	YY-MM-DD	Alpha	8	04-05-06
	YY-MMM-DD	Alpha	9	04 MAY 06
	YYDDD	Numeric	5	04127
	YYMMDD	Numeric	6	040506
	YYMMMDD	Alpha	7	04MAY06
Financial:	A Financial field is like a Signed field, with the different that when displayed the + or - will be replaced by a "CR" for negative values and "DR" for positive values, e.g."9999CR" or "9999DR". (Labels show "+", "CR" and "DR", whereas edit boxes do not.)
Integer:	Whole value between -99.999.999.999.999.999 and 999.999.999.999.999.999. The maximum length for integer values is 18 digits. If a value is assigned that is too large, the leading characters will be removed. Note: In databases a database field of type Integer has a length 9 digits. I.e. it's value is between -99.999.999 and 999.999.999. When assigning longer values to a database field integer the leading characters will be removed.
Numeric:	Combination of numeric characters. Numeric fields always have a fixed length. The maximum length that can be set for numeric values is 36, of which a maximum of 18 digits after the comma (,). When assigning literal values to a numeric the maximum length is 28 digits due to compiler restrictions. The length of 36 digits can be reached in calculations. The maximum length for numeric values in file -, dictionary - or form layout controls is 18 digits. The value is always positive. If a negative value is assigned, then the sign is removed. If a value is assigned that is too large, the leading characters will be removed. When using a numeric type with decimals as value, then the length of the value must be conform the format, inclusive of trailing zeroes. For example, when a Numeric type is used with Length = 3 and Decimals = 1, then the length of the value must be 3 numbers (the decimal separator not included). In this case 01.1 or 10.5.
Realstring:	Same as String, with the difference that a Realstring can also store spaces as trailing characters. To remove the beginning and/or trailing spaces from a Realstring value, you can write a TRIM instruction. It is not possible to use a Realstring for Files, Application links, Forms and Report layout controls.
Signed:	A Signed field is a Numeric field which can also be negative. When displayed it will contain a sign at the end (+ or -), e.g. "9999-" or "9999+". (Labels show "+", "CR" and "DR", whereas edit boxes do not.)
Star (report layouts):	Same as financial. The display in the form is for example "**12,34CR".
String:	Alphanumeric combination of characters. There is no size constraint. If a value with trailing spaces is assigned to a string, these spaces will be truncated. To send literals with ASCII characters to a string field, you can either use the character set "#$" or two surrounding @-characters. When a literal is assigned to a string field and this literal contains a hexadecimal key (always exactly two digits are expected) that is directly preceded by the character set "#$" or that is surrounded by two @-characters, the ASCII character that is concerned will be written to the specified field. The initiating characters ("#$" or the two @-characters) will be omitted when the literal is moved to the specified field.
Structure:	Keyword that marks the start of a group of items. The group name (= structure name) can be used to read/write all sub items in one statement. When a value is assigned to a sub item, the group value is updated also. By right-clicking on the structure name in your code, the total length for all items in that group will be displayed in the popup menu. The group itself is of the type alpha.

For handler definitions

Type:	Description:
CursorQuery	Handler for doing transactions on a DMS database. See also the description about Cursor Queries in this manual.
Email:	Handler for executing E-mail functions.
Filecontrol:	Handler for executing actions on files and directories. See also the File functions description in this manual.
Query:	Handler for executing SQL queries to the own or external database.
Storedproc:	Handler for executing stored procedures.
TableQuery:	Handler for executing select queries on the own database. It will use indexes available on the database for fast access. See also the Table queries description in this manual.
XML	Handler for executing XML commands on root level.
XMLNode	Handler for executing XML commands on (sub)node level.
XMLNodes	Handler for creating a loop which sets <Xmlnode> to every node in <Xmlnodes> collection.

Converting signed variables

It is not possible to convert a single (negative) signed or financial value directly to a string variable, without loosing the minus sign (-). However, you can work around this limitation by creating a structure (group), and place the signed or financial value inside. This way the minus sign (if applicable) will be stored also. By moving the structure to a string, this string will also contain the minus sign. Subsequently, you can move the string back into a structure.