Positional Defaults Tab

The following list describes the properties for the Positional Defaults tab on the Preferences dialog box, which contains the global defaults for the positional file format:

Data Type

Type of field formatting allowed. Valid values are:

• String
• Numeric
• Dt/Tm

Note: See Formatting Data in Fields for an explanation of these data formats.

Pad Character

Enter the type of "padding" (a character that holds the places that the field value does not occupy) that the system should use for fields if the field value is less than the number of enabled positions.

If you select the Use Configurable Trimming option in the Map Details dialog box, you can configure non-space characters on the input side of a map for both numeric and date/time fields.

Note: The default setting is a space.

For example, if a field is eight positions long and the field value is AAA (only 3 characters), you need 5 placeholders to round out this 8-character field. If you use the character & as the padding character, and left align the field, the field appears as AAA&&&&&.

Note: When using the CII standard, this field should be set to type K (double-byte). Since type K fields have double-byte spaces, so you cannot use SP as a pad character. Instead, you have to use the hex value for double-byte spaces which in Japanese is 0x8140.

Alignment

Specify whether fields are left-aligned, centered, or right-aligned in the enabled number of characters.

Allow/generate a ‘+' for positive numbers

If selected, enables you to use and generate a “+” on the input and/or output sides of a map.