The User Defined Variables Details screen is reached by pressing New, Properties or Delete from the User Defined Variables maintenance screen. This will allow you to view all the already defined fields for the UDV selected or create and delete new fields or UDV codes.
The Type group of Radio Buttons, allows you to select the type of data field you are amending the Properties, creating a New Type or Deleting. They are Character, Numeric, Date, Time, and True/False and determine the input of the length and decimal places.
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Field |
Description |
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Code |
The UDV Code field is enabled in NEW mode only. Enter a unique code to identify the User Defined Variable. |
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Name |
Enter the name of the User Defined Variable. |
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Field |
The Field name is the name you wish to give the data field (the name the user will see when inputting data) when you are creating a New, or amending the Properties of a Field from the User Defined Code. You have up to eighteen (18) characters to enter and the field is mandatory. Enter the name that you want to be displayed when the user is prompted to enter the data. i.e. Size in Metres or Colour of Roof etc. |
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Length |
The Length input field is only available when you have chosen a field type of Character or Numeric, and it represents the length (size) that you wish to allow for data input into this field. For instance if you wished to ask the colour of the Roof, and the name of the largest colour you wished to answer was say 12 characters then you would define the field with the length of 15, (always allow a few extra characters and numbers for expansion). |
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Decimals |
The Decimals data field is only available when you choose a field type of Numeric. It represents the number of decimal places you wish to allow for when entering the data into this numeric field. |
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Character |
Allows you to enter any character from 0 to 9, A-Z and other extended characters such as ^&*() etc. You should set your data field to this type if you want to allow for Names, Addresses, Colours etc. |
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Numeric |
Allows you to enter only numbers from 0 to 9 and the system will not allow you to enter any other character. You should set your data field to this type for fields such as Sizes, Lengths, Counts etc. |
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Date |
Allows you only to enter a valid Date value. |
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Time |
Allows you only to enter a valid Time value. |
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True/False |
This selection will provide you with a Check Box as you fill in the data, and will hold a True or False value against the database. Use this type if you need to know such things as “Is This Vehicle a 4 Wheel Drive”, “Is it a 2 door vehicle” etc. |