Creating Domains

Before creating a new domain, check whether a domain that defines the same value range already exists. In this case you must use the existing domain if possible.

1. Open the Repository Browser and navigate to the package in which you want to create the domain.
2. In the context menu of the package, choose Create → Dictionary Object → Domain.

   A dialog box appears.

3. In the new dialog box, enter the name of the domain and choose  with the quick info text Continue.

   The maintenance screen for the domain appears.

4. Enter an explanatory short text in the Short text field.

   For example, you can find the domain at a later time using this short text.

5. On the Definition tab page, choose the data type , enter the number of places in the No. Characters field and define the number of decimal places (only needed for data types DEC, FLTP, QUAN and CURR).
   Caution

   Some data types have a fixed length. For example, the data type CLNT (client) always has 3 places. If you enter an invalid number of places for such a data type, the system corrects this automatically after issuing a warning.

6. In the Output Length field you can define the output length.
7. If you have defined a data type with a decimal floating point for the domain, you must specify the output style in the Output field on the Definition tab page.

   For more information, see Output Styles .

8. If only certain input values are valid for the domain, you can enter them in the Value range tab page as fixed values .

   You can also define a value table as proposed value for foreign key checks on this tab page.

9. Choose  with the quick info text Save.

   The system asks you to assign the domain to a package.

10. Choose  with the quick info text Activate.

The domain is activated. You can find information about the activation flow in the activation log, which you can call with Utilities → Activation log. If errors occur when you activate the domain, the system automatically displays the activation log.

Additional Options

• Create documentation:

  You can create technical documentation about the domain by choosing Goto → Documentation.

• Restrict output length:

  The value for the output length (maximum field length including editing characters such as comma and period) is automatically computed from the definitions for the data type, the number of places and the number of decimal places. If fields that refer to this domain must be output on the screen or in lists with only a certain length, you can reduce this size.

• Distinguish uppercase/lowercase:

  If you want to distinguish uppercase and lowercase for the fields referring to this domain, you must select the Lower Case indicator on the Definition tab page. Otherwise, all the entered letters are converted to uppercase in the database. You can make entries for this field only in data types CHAR and LCHR.

• Assign conversion routine:

  If field values have to be converted during input or output, you can define a conversion routine .

• AM/PM time format:

  You can use the am/pm time format only for the data type TIMS.

• Output with sign:

  If fields that refer to this domain can contain negative values, you must set the Sign indicator. When the field contents are output to the screen, the first output location is reserved for a sign. If the indicator is not set but the field contains negative values, problems may occur when they are output on the screen. You can make entries in this field only for data types DEC, FLTP, QUAN and CURR.