| Form specification files / Form file structure | |
Defines the database schema file to be used to compile the form.
Each form specification file can begin with a SCHEMA section identifying the database schema (if any) on which the form is based. This can be any database schema that is defined with a database schema file. Form field data types can be automatically extracted from the schema file if you specify the table and column name in the form field definition (see ATTRIBUTES section).
SCHEMA { database[@dbserver] | string | FORMONLY }
DATABASE { database[@dbserver] | string | FORMONLY } [ WITHOUT NULL INPUT ]
The DATABASE syntax is supported for compatibility with Informix 4gl; using SCHEMA is recommended.
The SCHEMA (or DATABASE) section is optional; if you do not specify it, database schema specification defaults to SCHEMA FORMONLY.
The DATABASE instruction is supported for backward compatibility, we recommend using SCHEMA instead.
You can create a form that is not related to any database schema by using the FORMONLY keyword after SCHEMA/DATABASE. When using this option, you must omit the TABLES section and define field data types explicitly in the ATTRIBUTES section.
The database and dbserver specifications are supported (but ignored) for backward compatibility with Informix form specifications.
When using a specific database schema, the field data types are taken from the schema file during compilation. Make sure that the database schema file of the development database corresponds to the production database; otherwise the form fields defined in the compiled version of your forms will not match the table structures of the production database.
The use of the WITHOUT NULL INPUT option in the DATABASE syntax is supported for backward compatibility, but is ignored.