Format Type

Code

Name

Description

A

Alphanumeric

Any combination of digits, letters, and/or other characters from 1 to 256 characters in length.

I

Integer

Whole number without a decimal point, up to 9 digits in length, including a leading minus sign if the field contains negative values.

D

Decimal

Floating-point double-precision number, with decimal positions, up to 16 characters in length including digits, a leading minus sign (if the field contains negative values), and a decimal point.

P

Packed

Packed decimal internal format with optional decimal point, up to 33 characters in length including a leading minus sign and a decimal point.  Up to 31 characters can follow the decimal point.

DT

(Smart) Date

Represents a date field stored internally as a four-byte binary integer indicating the elapsed time since the base date of 12/31/1900. The date format does not specify type or length; instead, it specifies date component options (D, W, M, Q, Y, and YY). Date fields that are blank or all zeros are displayed as blanks, but will be interpreted in date computations and expressions as the base date.

 

 

 

Last Updated: July 13, 2004