Item subclass

The subclass of an item represents the characteristics of the data. Both category and item types have the Item Subclass property.

To define the subclass of an item type:

  1. Access the Properties for the selected category or item type.
  2. For the Item Subclass property, select a value that defines the data for the type:
    Number
    Any number excluding active syntax objects. The interpretation can be either character or binary. See Number Item Subclass properties .
    Text
    Any character excluding active syntax objects. The interpretation can be either character or binary. See Text Item Subclass properties .
    Date & Time
    A valid date and time format based on the data. The interpretation can be either character or binary. See Date & Time Item Subclass properties .
    Syntax
    Syntax objects are used as separators between portions of data. A restricted set of values used to define a dynamic delimiter, initiator, terminator, or release character. The interpretation is character. A syntax object cannot be longer than 120 bytes. Syntax objects, used as syntax, cannot be mapped. See Syntax Item Subclass properties .

For text and syntax objects, character size constraints can be in bytes or characters. Numbers are considered in digits and date-time formats are sized by the format, such as CCYYMMDD.