In our previous series of technical blogs, we discussed How to find the number of fields of an open Table in Sage X3 (Sage Enterprise Management). In this blog we would learn about another function of Sage X3, which is used to define different data types. These data types can be used in all the dictionaries which have defined data like report parameters, screen fields, table fields, etc.
A data type, attaches a given number of characteristics (like length, actions, internal type, etc.) to be automatically assigned to the fields. However, it is not necessary to define all the characteristics of a data type.
Indeed, the non-defined characteristics at the type level will be requested at the definition of the screen, which makes it possible to define the generic types. ADONIX delivers a certain number of data types containing only the internal type, that is to say the field storage type. These data types cannot be modified. Here is the list:
| Type code | Definition |
| A | Alphanumeric string |
| ABB | Blob |
| ACB | Clob |
| C | Short integer |
| D | Date |
| DCB | Decimal amount |
| L | Long integer |
| M | Local menu |
| MM | Local menu with the possibility to filter the elements |
Fig 1- Data types containing only the internal type
- M or MM corresponding to a local menu where the number is given by the contents of the Menu column in the table or screen dictionary. A local menu is a title table, entered either in the form of a combo box or in the form of radio buttons in the form of a tick box (if it is local menu 1, which contains the values Yes/No). In the database only the choice number is stored in the list (0 if the field is not assigned, 1 if the first title in the list is selected and so on).
In the table shown below are displayed the data types corresponding to the supervisor technical elements:
| Type code | Definition |
| ABS | Variable at the bottom of the grid |
| AT | Field indicating the type of a blob |
| AX1 | Translated text (length 12) |
| AX2 | Translated text (length 20) |
| AX3 | Translated text (length 30) |
| W | Filler |
Fig 2- Data types corresponding to the supervisor technical elements
- ABS identifies the screen field at the bottom of the grid. This field is mandatory for all the grid section defined in a screen. If the grid will accept entries, this field will be in entry mode; if the grid is hidden, this field will be in hidden mode.
- W identifies filler. This data type placed in a screen field will leave a space between the previous field and the next field, if these two fields are on the same line. It is however preferable to use, to this end, the column section in the screen dictionary and to only use the fields with the data type ‘W’ as a last resort.
- AX1, AX2, AX3 identify the translated texts. Indeed, this field is not created in the database. Its field name serves to identify the translated text that will be stored in the dedicated table ATEXTRA.
Displayed in the table below is a list of the functional type that is particularly important.
| Type code | Definition |
| MD1 to MD4 | Formats for the amounts depending on the currency (which must be on-line): the 4 corresponding formats are defined in the currency table. |
| MC1 to MC4 | Formats for the amounts depending on the currency: These are the same types as above, but they are optimized for use in a scrolling grid in which a column is entered with a currency that does not depend on the current line. |
| MS1 to MS4 | Amounts in the site currency |
| ADI | Code stored in a miscellaneous table (where the number is given in the table dictionary, by the link expression). |
| HM | Hour : minute |
| QTY | Quantity |
| QT1 to QT5 | Optimized quantity for the grid section (same notes as above : the format of a column must not depend on the current line) |
| VCR | Document number (possibility to tunnel to the object declared as setup). |
Fig 3- List of the functional type
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