Printer colon file limits field operators

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The limits field gives the creator of the colon file control over the type of ODM object built for a given attribute.

The limits field in the colon file contains two types of information:

  • SMIT dialog information
  • Validation information

The SMIT dialog information is used to build SMIT objects to represent colon file attributes in the Object Data Manager (ODM) database. Objects are used in the Print a File, Printer Setup, and Default Job Characteristics dialog screens.

All objects built for the limits field are part of the sm_cmd_opt object class. The limits field allows control over the following fields in a sm_cmd_opt object class:

  • id_seq_num
  • entry_type
  • cmd_to_list_mode
  • required
  • op_type
  • multi_select
  • cmd_to_list_mode
  • disp_values
  • aix_values
  • values_msg_file
  • values_msg_get
  • help_msg_id
  • help_msg_loc

These attributes can be set to be displayed always, never, or only if the attribute is referenced in the pipeline. For detailed descriptions of these fields, see"sm_cmd_opt (SMIT Dialog/Selector Command Option) Object Class" in General Programming Concepts: Writing and Debugging Programs.

The validation information is used to validate attribute values when the colon file is digested and when a print job is submitted.