Category:Format Specifications
See the format specifications below for more details on each.
See also Format specifications for a chart comparing their uses.
Format specifications tell Business Rules the form that a particular data field will be in. A format specification is required whenever data is input into or output from a program. It is also required with the full screen processing statements. Format specs are not required in the following situations: with unformatted internal files, with all display files, and when unformatted PRINT statements are used.
Not all format specifications are alike in their uses. Some can be used with internal and external files, but not with display files. Some can be used only with full screen formatting. And some format specifications behave differently depending on whether they are used for input or output.
Common SQL Fields and BR Equivilants
| SQL Field | BR Equivilant | Example |
|---|---|---|
| COUNTER | N | N 6 |
| INTEGER | N | N 6 |
| LONG INTEGER | N | N 12 |
| SINGLE | S | S |
| DOUBLE | D | D |
| BINGINT | N/A | N 10 |
| SMALLINT | BH | BH 2 |
| FLOAT | L | N 6 |
| DECIMAL | N or PD | N 12.2 or PD 6.2 |
| DATETIME | N/A | Typically Stored as separate fields |
| DATE | C or D | C 8 or D |
| CHAR | C | C 30 |