Pcdata Properties - Validation Tab

A pcdata object contains character data in an XML document. Only one pcdata object can be defined per element or content particle.

Sterling Gentran:Server® automatically names the pcdata object with the name of the parent element or content particle.

When a pcdata has an operation performed against it (link, standard rule, or as an extended rule storage field), the system displays a red checkmark over the pcdata icon.

This diagram illustrates the Pcdata Properties dialog box Validation tab.

This table describes the parts of the Pcdata Properties dialog box Validation tab.

Part Function
Mandatory Indicates whether the pcdata is mandatory.
Minimum Specifies the minimum length of the pcdata.
Maximum Specifies the maximum length of the pcdata.
Data-type Specifies the type of data. Valid values are:
  • String (alphanumeric element)
  • Number (numeric or real element)
  • Date/Time (date or time element)
Format Specifies how the pcdata is formatted.

Depending on which Data-type you selected, you can either select the data format from a list (if you choose Number or Date/Time in the Type field), or enter a Syntax Token to denote that this field must be formatted as the specified Syntax Token dictates.

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).