Formatting Strings

A string-type field or element contains one or more printable characters. If you specify that an element is a string type, you must designate the format by specifying a syntax token.

Use this procedure to format strings in a screen entry or print form.

  1. Double-click an existing element.

    The system displays the Element Properties dialog box (Name tab).

  2. Click the Validation tab.
  3. From the data-type list, select String. This indicates that the element contains characters.
  4. From the form format list, select a predefined syntax token to denote that this element must be formatted as the specified syntax token dictates.
    Note: When you installed Sterling Gentran:Server®, you assigned a default format to the string fields. This format serves as the basis for character validation. Most U.S. users use a default format that corresponds to ASCII characters (for example, the X syntax token). Most users of Asian or European languages and encoded character sets should use the Free Format (0x01-0xFF).
  5. From the file format list, verify that the string format selected is the correct format that is written to the EDI file.
    Note: A string format must be designated for string-type elements in the file format list, even for hidden fields.
  6. Click OK to exit the Element Properties dialog box.