SCROLL attribute

Syntax

SCROLL

Usage

By default, the maximum data input length is defined by the width of the item-tag of the field. For example, a form field defined with an item tag of 4 cells like [f1 ], users can only enter a maximum of 4 latin characters (abcd, éééé), even if the program variable used by the input dialog is a VARCHAR(20).

To let the user input more characters than the width of the item-tag of the field, use the SCROLL attribute.

The SCROLL attribute applies only to fields with character data input.

Use the SCROLL attribute only when the layout of the form does not allow for defining an item tag that is large enough to hold all possible character string data that fits in the corresponding program variable. Understand that the end user can miss a part of the displayed data when the field is too small. Therefore, times when you would need to use the SCROLL attribute are rare.

Special consideration needs to be taken regarding full-width characters like Chinese logograms: A form field defined with 4 cells as [f1 ] will by default only allow 2 full-width characters, if the SCROLL attribute is not used.

Using character or byte length semantics with (FGL_LENGTH_SEMANTICS) also impacts the maximum field input length.

For more details, see Input length of form fields.