Colon file format

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Colon files in both the predefined and customized databases have five fields (separated by colons) for each attribute.

The five fields for each attribute in a colon file are:
Item Descriptor
Message catalog ID Identifies the message catalog where the attribute description is stored. The message catalog ID can take any of three forms:
  • Null string: The string value for the mD attribute is assumed to be the file name of the message catalog (for example, mydescriptors.cat).
  • One character: An abbreviation for pioattr. x.cat , where x is the one-character catalog ID. This form of the catalog ID is normally used only by the operating system.
  • Catalog file name: The file name of the message catalog (for example, mydescriptors.cat).

    Either the one-character form or the catalog file name form of the catalog overrides the catalog file name specified with the mD attribute.

    Message number
    Identifies the message index in the catalog that contains the description of this attribute. Leading zeros are ignored.
    Attribute name
    Specifies two characters, except for group header attributes, which are five characters.
    Limits field
    Specifies limits for the attributes.
    Attribute value string
    Specifies zero to 1000 characters.

The following is an example of one line in a colon file:

:023:_w::80

The attribute name is _w, the attribute value string is 80, and the attribute description is stored in message number 23 in the message catalog specified by the mD attribute.

Note: All attribute descriptions are stored in message catalogs. If an attribute has the same description for multiple printers, the attribute in each printer's database can reference the same catalog and message number. If the same attribute name has a different description for different printers, separate message numbers are used.