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DMAC

FIELD DICTIONARY EDITS:

PAYROLL

The name directly under the Field Dictionary Edits: heading is the tag associated with the field for which these check box edits apply.   The Field #:  indicates the number of the field for which these check box edits apply.  The field number is 00 when no field is present for a given tag.  For example, PAYROLL is the heading for the record format.  No field is associated with the tag PAYROLL, therefore the Field #: is 00.

The tag is associated with the field by the one space you entered between the field name and the underscore characters when you were in the Paint the Screen mode of the Record Format generator.

To advance to the next tag/field name, press {REL} or {RECORD} {FWD} (function key 3 followed by the forward arrow).  To go back to the previous tag/field name press {RECORD} {BACK} (function key 3 followed by the back arrow).

The following is a list of definitions of options on the check box edits screen.  If you have never used Unibase by DMAC, you might not understand all of the listed definitions until you complete Volume 2, Chapter 6 of the manuals (the continuation of this tutorial).  However, it is a good idea to familiarize yourself with these definitions now.

Field Number

This is the number of the field (in the order it was entered). It is assigned by Unibase by DMAC and cannot be changed.

9.2.1 Field Dictionary Edits-

Tag

This is the tag for the given field.  If a field is entered without a tag, this area is blank.  Currently this is assigned in the Paint the Screen section, but in future releases the user will be able to modify it here.

Field Length

This is the number of underscore characters that you entered to define the field length.  If you wish to change the field length, enter a new number.

Protected Field:

When marked yes, this field cannot be inputted by the operator. Its use is to allow display of information for the keyer which cannot be changed.  Either field edits, prior passes, or use of indexed files or some other method is used by the programmer to put this data into the current record.

Type

This is the type of data that is expected for this field.  Valid entries are as follows: (L is the default for type.)

• A - For capital alpha characters only.
• N - For numeric characters only.
• L - For capital alpha or numeric characters only.  (If you are using an O29 style keyboard and you select “L”, you will shift to get numeric characters on the embedded numeric keypad.) L refers to the Lower Level keyboard not the Lower Case keyboard.  This comes from the old Nixdorf keyboards which did not have lower case.  They were considered, lower level.
• U - For capital alpha or numeric characters only.  (If you are using an O29 style keyboard and you select “U”, you will shift to get alpha characters.)
• M - Mostly numeric characters.  (If you have a numeric field that needs to be checked for specific numbers using the Range option S or E, this option will not right justify on the low range field and therefor will not make zero a valid selection.)
• T - Typewrite with embedded numeric.  (If you are using the 029 keyboard, the {ALT} key give you numeric and the {SHIFT} key give you upper case.)
• B - Both upper and lower case alpha.  (If you are using an 029 keyboard, you shift to get capital letters.)

This entry will automatically fill out the check box edits Key Punctuation, Key Blanks, Key Oversigned, Key LCA, Key UCA, and Key Numerics.  The following chart shows the default setting for each field type chosen.  If these are changed, the actual meaning of the Field Type may be altered.  This allows for more flexibility in data entry.  Please note that if none of the Key check boxes are checked, data will not be permitted in that field.

The default Table:

Key Punctuation:

When checked yes, this allows punctuation characters. The Unibase by DMAC  field types of (A,N,L,U,M,B,T) are automatically scanned to set these tighter ANSI standard restrictions up without conflict. You may override the defaults set by the Type, but it is not necessary. Tighter control is provided this way.

Key Blanks:

When checked yes, this allows blanks to be keyed.

Key Ovrsgn’d:

When checked yes, this allows oversigned numbers to be keyed. This provides an additional way of excluding negative numbers.

Key LCA

When checked yes, this allows  lower case letters to be entered on the keyboard. If allowed, they can be generated during data entry in any field type by using the control shift plus a letter.

Key UCA

When checked yes, this allows upper case letters to be entered on the keyboard.

Key Numerics

When checked yes, this allows numerics to be entered on the keyboard.

Must Enter

A “Y” response specifies that this field must contain data before the next field can be accessed.

Must Complete

A “Y” response specifies that when data is entered, every position in this field must contain data before the next field can be accessed.   

Field Boundary

A “Y” response specifies that the operator must press {FIELD REL} to move to the next field.

Right Justify

A “Y” response at this prompt right justifies the data in the field.  When you create a record format, “Y” is the Right Justify default for a numeric field.  When you change  a record format, Right Justify does not default to “Y”.   

Fill-If Data

An “S” response at this prompt specifies that the remainder of a partially-filled field will be filled with spaces (space-fill).  “S” is the Fill-If Data default for an alphanumeric field.

Select “Z” if you want the remainder of a partially-filled field to be filled with zeroes (zero-fill).  When you create a record format, “Z” is the Fill- If Data default for a numeric field.  When you change a record format, Fill-If Data does not default to “Z”.   

Fill- No Data

If you enter “S” a field with no data will be filled with spaces.

If you enter “Z” a field with no data will be filled with zeros.

Verify

This is the verification method to be used during verification of this field.  Valid entries are as follows:

• K - Key verification required.  The field must be re-keyed to verify the data.
• S - Skip verification.  This field will be skipped during the verification process.
• E - Entry allowed.  New data can be entered into this field during verification.
• C - Conditional verification.  This examines the accumulator that is updated by that field.  If the value of the accumulator is zero, the verification process is skipped.  If the value is other than zero, the entry for this field is key verified.  If C is selected as the verify method, a Batch Balance method must also be chosen.
• V - Visual verification required.  The cursor stops on this field to allow the data entry operator to visually verify the data. Press (FIELD REL) to continue with verify.
• R - Release the record.  This field and all subsequent fields in the record are skipped.  Use this option if the most important fields are at the beginning of the record and you don’t want the operator to take time to verify fields at the end of a record. Select this option for the field after the last field you want the operator to verify.

Reverify

This option forces the operator to reverify the information that has been corrected as a result of Key verification. This option will affect only Key verification.

Range Check

Select “I” (inside) if the data must be within a specific range.  Select “O” (outside) if the data must be outside a specific range.  

Enter “E” if all characters as controlled by the edits are valid except the specified characters entered in the lower limit field. If you run out of room in the lower limit field, enter remaining characters in the upper limit field.

Lower Limit

If a Range Check is selected, enter the lowest acceptable value for the data. For numeric fields negative values can be entered so that limits can be signed limits and algebraically correct. The value must agree with the field type (alpha or numeric).  If the range check option is “S” (selective) or “E” (exception), enter the allowed (disallowed) characters.

Upper Limit

If a Range check is selected, enter the highest acceptable value for the data. For numeric fields negative values can be entered so that limits can be signed limits and algebraically correct. The value must agree with the field type (alpha or numeric).

Tag  Screen Attributes

Select the letter that indicates the desired tag screen attribute (the way that a given tag appears to the data entry operator) for the tag of this field. The following are the screen attribute options:

• N Normal: light character on dark background.
• H Highlighted: brighter than normal.
• R Reverse video:  dark character on light background.
• U Underlined.
• B Blinking.

Field Attr

Select the letter that indicates the desired field screen attribute (the way that a given field appears to the data entry operator) for this field.  The following are the field screen attribute options:

• N Normal:  light character on dark background.
• H Highlighted:  brighter than normal.
• R Reverse video:  dark character on light background.
• U Underlined.
• B Blinking.

Value Table Method

Select the letter that indicates the desired value table method to be used with this field.  The following are the value table methods:

• V Validate: Search the value table to check whether the entered data is valid.
• D Display: Search the value table for the entered data.  Depending on the data, display additional information about  the data on the screen.
• R Replace: Search the value table for the entered data; place the information contained in the value table in the current record.

Value Table Number

Enter the number of the value table to be used for this field. This number is assigned in the value table assignments list.

Invalid entries?

Select “Y” if the value table will contain a list of invalid entries, rather than valid entries.

Check Digit Method

Select the letter that indicates the check digit method to be used to verify this field.  The following are the Check Digit Options.

• G Generate: The algorithm is used to generate a check digit. (For further information about check digits, see Chapter 10.)
• V Validate: The algorithm is used to validate the last digit in the field (the check digit).

Check Digit Number

Type the number of the check digit algorithm to be used to check this field.  Valid Entries are 1 - 9.  The Check-Digit method and number should only be indicated for the last field of multi field check digits.

Multifld Ck Dig

Select “Y” if this field should be included in the multi field check digit calculation.  This entry must be made for every field in the multi field check digit calculation.  The fields must all be numeric and must occur in sequence on the screen.

Validation Edit

This check box edit will be used in future releases. Then it will be used in conjunction with predefined Field Dictionary Edits.

Detailed Help

When checked yes, the detailed help information describing this field is made available to the keyer through the {INFO} key.

Field Add/Subtract

When checked yes, this option permits the A or S keys to be used in conjunction with the {FLD} key to Add and Subtract individual characters in a field as well as across field boundaries within a record.  When deleting from a field, fill data is defined by the next higher numbered field.  When inserting into a field, fill data is defined by the field on which the insert is performed.

Typically, this option is used for free format text, such as, “Comments” and “Notes”.  If {A} is used and the following field is not coded as a FLD ADD/SUB field, data in that field is moved to the right one position for each depression of the keys.  However, data already existing in the extreme right positions of this field is truncated one position at a time correspondingly.

Field Help Text

Type up to 80 characters of Help text.  This will be displayed to the data entry operator while the operator is keying the field.

9.2.2 Local Field Edits-

Rcd-to-Rcd Auto

Enter the letter that indicates the type of record-to-record process that should occur when the Auto functions are on.  The following are the rcd-to-rcd options.

• D Duplicate the data in this field in every record.
• S Skip this field in every record.
• I  Increment the value in this field for each new record.  The increment is by one.
• E Emit (copy) the field tag into this field in every record.  Select this option if a field will always contain the same data and needs to be displayed when the operator keys the record.

Rcd-to-Rcd Ascend

Select “Y” if the value of this field must be equal to or greater than the value of the same field in the prior record.

Fmt-to-Fmt Auto

• Select the letter that indicates the type of format-to-format process that should occur when the AUTO functions are on.  This process will be performed on all records with the same format number.  The following are the fmt-to-fmt options:
• D  Duplicate the data in this field for every record with this same format number.
• I  Increment the value of this field by one for each new record.  The fields must have the same format number.

Fmt-to-Fmt Ascend

Select “Y” if the value of this field must be equal to or greater than the value of the same field in the prior record with the same format number.

Tab Field

Select “Y” if you want the cursor to stop on this field when the (Tab) key is pressed.  For example, if the entry at the Tab field prompt for field 4 is “Y”, but is blank for fields 2 and 3, the operator can press the {Tab} key to skip fields 2 and 3 and stop on field 4.

Batch Balance Method

Select the letter that indicates the type of batch balancing method to be used for this field. The following are the Batch Balance Method options:

• A Add: Add the value of this field to the value in the accumulator.
• S Subtract: Subtract the value of this field from the value in the accumulator.

The Batch Balance Method checkbox must be accompanied by an Accumulator Number and vice versa.  Batch Balance Methods can be used to accumulate totals or to check if the batch is balanced.  The first use is a perversion of the purpose of this check digit but it will work.

Accumulator Number

Type the number (from 1-32) of the accumulator to be used for the indicated Batch Balancing Method.

If  you plan to access the contents of the accumulator in a Unibase AID program using the load or set verb, the accumulator number relates to the order in which the variables are declared.  See the verbs load and set in Volume 2, Chapter 3 for more details.

Conditional Linkage

Select “Y” to have a field that al lows the user to change formats by entering the format number.  The field length would be the same number of digits as your largest format and the field type must be “N”.  This should be the last field of a record format.

Enable Field Edit

Select “Y” if a field edit program will be used in the standard job to manipulate data in this field.

Keying Order

If nothing is entered, the fields will be keyed across the page and then down the page.  To change the order,  number the fields, in this checkbox, in the order they will be keyed.

If there are errors due to mis-numbering, an error tone will sound when the checkbox edits are terminated.  Press {FIELD REL} to clear the error message.  Error messages will display for each error found.  Press {FIELD REL} until all the error messages have cleared, this brings the check box edits back to the screen to correct the keying order.

Update Field

Select “Y” to indicate this field should be entered when in update mode. In update mode only fields thus marked will be entered.

Aux Dup Number/Text

The Aux Dup number allows the check box  process to associate text with the field. In release 7.24 up to ten two digit numbers can be entered for each field. The choice  for identifying these ten fields is a two digit number. This number means that the related data can be used to fill this field. {AUXDUP} and {AXSHW} are used to either dup or show the predefined  aux dup fields. If only one field is specified, then no number may be entered after the {AUXDUP} key is hit.

9.2.3 In-Out Field Edits

Added Field

Select “Y” if this field is to be added to records in an existing file.  Added fields cannot be inserted between existing fields, they must follow at the end of an existing record format.

Input Packed Decimal

Select “Y” if the field input on read unformatted file is a packed decimal field. This feature is available but has not been tested. It allows loading an old IBM packed decimal field into the Unibase by DMAC environment.

Output Mask

This check box edit will be used in future releases to enter the mask used for output of this field.

Output Placement

When using the new output generator, if this field is set to the column location for the start of this field, the new output generator will output the fields in the order indicated, from lowest column number to highest column number.

If some fields have locations and others do not the Output Generator will assume that a field without output placement specified immediately follow the previous sequential fields location.  If a zero “0" is entered, the field will not be output.  If fields overlay each other unpredictable results occur.