Column Validation File (.val)

The .val database schema file holds functional and display attributes of database table columns.

Description

The .val file holds default attributes and validation rules for database columns.

In form files, the attributes are taken from the .val file as defaults if the corresponding attribute is not explicitly specified in the field definition of the ATTRIBUTES section.

In programs, you can validate variable values in accordance with the INCLUDE attribute by using the VALIDATE instruction.

The .val file can be generated by fgldbsch from the IBM^® Informix^® specific syscolval table, or can be edited by an external column attributes editor.

This table describes the structure of the .val file:

Table 1. Structure of the .val file
Pos	Type	Description
1	STRING	Database table name.
2	STRING	Column name.
3	STRING	Column property name.
4	STRING	Column property value.

The supported attribute definitions are:

Table 2. Supported attribute definitions of the .val file
Attribute Name	Description
ACTION	Defines the ACTION attribute. Value must be an identifier.
AUTONEXT	Defines the AUTONEXT attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
AUTOSCALE	Defines the AUTOSCALE attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
CENTURY	Defines the CENTURY attribute. The value must be one of: `R`, `C`, `F`, or `P`.
COLOR	Defines the COLOR attribute. The value is a color identifier (RED, GREEN, BLUE, ...)
COMMENTS	Defines the COMMENTS attribute. The value is a quoted string or Localized String (`%"xxx"`).
DEFAULT	Defines the DEFAULT attribute. Number, quoted string or identifier (`TODAY`).
FORMAT	Defines the FORMAT attribute. The value is a quoted string.
HEIGHT	Defines the HEIGHT attribute. The value is an integer followed by: { `CHARACTERS`, `COLUMNS`,`LINES`, `POINTS`, or `PIXELS` }
IMAGE	Defines the IMAGE attribute. The value is a quoted string.
INCLUDE	Defines an include list as the INCLUDE attribute. Value must be a list: `(value [,...])`, where `value` can be a number, quoted string or identifier (`TODAY`).
INITIALIZER	Defines the INITIALIZER attribute. Value must be an identifier.
INVISIBLE	Defines the INVISIBLE attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
ITEMS	Defines the VALUEUNCHECKED attribute. The value must be a list: `(item [,...])`, where `item` can be a number, a quoted string or `(value,"label")`.
ITEMTYPE	Defines the Form Item Type to be used when the column is used as FIELD in forms. Value must be an identifier defining the item type (case sensitive!): `Edit`, `ButtonEdit`, `Label`, `Image`, `DateEdit`, `TextEdit`, `ComboBox`, `RadioGroup`, `CheckBox`, `Slider`, `SpinEdit`, `TimeEdit`, `ProgressBar`
JUSTIFY	Defines the JUSTIFY attribute. The value must be one of: `LEFT`, `CENTER` or `RIGHT`.
ORIENTATION	Defines the ORIENTATION attribute. The value must be one of: `VERTICAL` or `HORIZONTAL`.
PICTURE	Defines the PICTURE attribute. The value is a quoted string.
SAMPLE	Defines the SAMPLE attribute. The value is a quoted string.
SCROLL	Defines the SCROLL attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
SCROLLBARS	Defines the SCROLLBARS attribute. The value must be one of: `X`, `Y` or `BOTH`.
SHIFT	Corresponds to the UPSHIFT and DOWNSHIFT attributes. Values can be `UP` or `DOWN`.
SIZEPOLICY	Defines the SIZEPOLICY attribute. The value must be one of: `INITIAL`, `DYNAMIC` or `FIXED`.
STEP	Defines the STEP attribute. The value must be an integer.
STRECH	Defines the STRETCH attribute. The value must be one of: `X`, `Y` or `BOTH`.
STYLE	Defines the STYLE attribute. The value is a quoted string.
TAG	Defines the TAG attribute. The value is a quoted string.
TEXT	Defines the TEXT attribute. The value is a quoted string or Localized String (`%"xxx"`).
TITLE	Defines the TITLE attribute. The value is a quoted string or Localized String (`%"xxx"`).
VALUEMIN	Defines the VALUEMIN attribute. The value must be an integer.
VALUEMAX	Defines the VALUEMAX attribute. The value must be an integer.
VALUECHECKED	Defines the VALUECHECKED attribute. The value must be an number or a quoted string.
VALUEUNCHECKED	Defines the VALUEUNCHECKED attribute. The value must be an number or a quoted string.
VERIFY	Defines the VERIFY attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
WANTTABS	Defines the WANTTABS attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
WANTNORETURNS	Defines the WANTNORETURNS attribute. When this attribute is defined, value is `YES`.
WIDTH	Defines the WIDTH attribute. The value is an integer followed by: { `CHARACTERS`, `COLUMNS`,`LINES`, `POINTS`, or `PIXELS` }

customer^customer_name^STYLE^"important"^
customer^customer_name^SHIFT^UP^
customer^customer_name^COMMENTS^"Name of the customer"^
order^order_date^DEFAULT^TODAY^
order^order_date^COMMENTS^"Creation date of the order"^