Data types

The IBM OpenPages® application provides various data types from which you can choose.

After you select a data type for a field and save it, only the parameters or settings for the data type can be modified; you cannot change the data type itself.

Boolean data type

A logical operator that has the following predefined values: true (default) or false.

For more information, see Defining Boolean fields.

Business entity selector data type

A business entity selector data type field displays a business entity structure and allows users to move up and down the structure to locate and select a specific business entity. .

For more information, see Defining business entity selector fields.

Classifier data type

The classifier data type accepts simple string text that can be interpreted and classified by a natural language processing service that uses Watson technology.

For more information, see Defining a classifier configuration and Defining a classifier field.

Currency data type

The currency data type accepts numeric values with decimal places for currency values.

For more information, see Defining currency fields.

Date data type

The date data type default value is blank and this value cannot be changed. The date picker pop-up box defaults to the current date.

For more information, see Defining a date field.

Decimal data type

The decimal data type accepts numeric values with decimal places. Optionally. you can set a value range and a default value. If a user enters a value that is either lower or higher than the specified value range or a non-decimal value, an error message is shown.

For more information, see Defining decimal fields.

Enumerated String data type

The enumerated string data type accepts a list of string values. Define the values for the list and whether multiple values can be selected. A default value can optionally be specified.

For more information, see Defining enumerated string fields.

Integer data type

The integer data type accepts numeric values without decimals. A value range and default value can optionally be specified. If a user enters a value that is either below or above the specified value range or a non-integer value, an error message is shown.

For more information, see Defining integer fields.

Long String data type

A long string is considered to be any text of length more than 4000 bytes. Long strings allow users to enter more than 4000 bytes in a single field.

You can encrypt long string field values up to a maximum of 2 MB in the IBM OpenPages repository.

The long string data type has the following subtypes:
  • Medium

    Medium is a fixed size of 32 KB. Medium is the only size that is supported for FastMap uploads.

  • Large
    Large is a default size of 256 KB. It can be increased by changing the Platform > Repository > Resource > Large Text > Maximum Size setting. Enter a value in bytes. The maximum size applies to all large subtype long strings.
    Important: After it is set, this value cannot be reduced.
    Note: The maximum size is a hidden setting. To show hidden settings, set Applications > Common > Configuration > Show Hidden Settings to true.

The display type determines how a long string field is presented to the user.

Long string fields can have the following display types:

  • Markdown

    Provides a box display area in which users can enter text in Markdown format (For help with syntax, consult resources such as the Markdown Guide).

  • Rich Text

    Provides a text display area with a toolbar and commands for text formatting and word processing. The toolbar can be minimized or expanded. The space used for non-printing, formatting, and multi-byte characters might cause the data to exceed the size of the medium long string field, resulting in an error message.

    Users can upload images in a rich text field. The maximum file size of an image is 5 MB.

  • Text Area

    Provides a box display area in which users can enter plain text.

Reporting Fragment data type

The Reporting Fragment data type displays a component (such as a bar or line chart) from a Cognos® report or dashboard in a field.

Reporting fragment fields support two data types:
  • Automatic: Displays the reporting fragment automatically when a user opens the view.
  • On Demand: Displays the reporting fragment when a user clicks it. The reporting fragment opens in a pop-up window.

For more information, see Configuring reporting fragment fields.

Simple String data type

The simple string data type, by default, displays data as text. The default value of the field is blank. The maximum size of a simple string is 4000 bytes.

You can encrypt simple string field values in the IBM OpenPages repository. You can also provide a default value.

The display type determines how the field is presented to the user.

Simple string fields can have the following display types:
  • Link

    Contains a URL value. It validates that the web address is a fully qualified URL internet address (for example, http://www.mycompany.com or ftp://ftp.myftpsite.com) and will display an error message to the user if the format of the web address is incorrect.

    If a URL is provided as the default value when defining the field, then a link text must be provided. The users sees the link text in place of the URL when viewing the object.

  • Markdown

    Provides a box display area in which users can enter text in Markdown format (For help with syntax, consult resources such as the Markdown Guide).

  • Rich Text

    Provides a text display area with a toolbar and commands for text formatting and word processing. The toolbar can be minimized or expanded. You might not be able to enter 4,000 rich text characters into the text display area because of the space that is used for formatting and multi-byte characters.

    Note: When users generate reports in PDF format, rich text fields do not render properly and the format is not preserved.
  • Text

    Provides a box area in which users can enter a string value.

  • Text Area

    Provides a box display area in which users can enter plain text.

After it is defined, you cannot change a field defined as simple string data type to long string data type.

For more information, see Defining simple string fields.

User/Group data type

The User/Group data type allows the selection of users and/or groups. The display type controls whether the field is for users and/or groups and whether single or multiple selections can be made.

A User/Group field can have the following display types:

  • Group Selector

    Allows the selection of a single user group.

  • Multi-valued Group Selector

    Allows the selection of multiple user groups.

  • Multi-valued User Selector

    Allows the selection of multiple users.

  • Multi-valued User/Group Selector

    Allows the selection of multiple users and/or groups.

  • User Selector

    Allows the selection of a single user.

  • User/Group Selector

    Allows the selection of a single user or group.

The following additional settings for user/group fields are defined on the profile:

  • Include Disabled
  • Starting Group
  • Include Subgroups