Path: utzoo!attcan!uunet!ncrlnk!ncr-sd!hp-sdd!hplabs!pyramid!infmx!aland From: aland@infmx.UUCP (Dr. Scump) Newsgroups: comp.databases Subject: Re: Informix 4gl forms - formonly syntax broken Summary: doc error? Message-ID: <465@infmx.UUCP> Date: 24 Sep 88 06:40:18 GMT References: <475@pan.UUCP> <1363@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu> Organization: Informix Software Inc., Menlo Park, CA. Lines: 51 In article <1363@ucsfcca.ucsf.edu>, brianc@daedalus (Brian Colfer) writes: > > Well I tried this effect... The LIKE works fine I think JW's confusion > on this is not reading the manual quite carefully enough: > > fieldtag = FORMONLY.field-name > [TYPE [ data-type | LIKE table.column] ] [NOT NULL] [, attributes]; > ^ ^ > So this works: > > database test > ... > f1 = formonly.foo type like test_tbl.col_one; > > but maybe I'm missing something because this doesn't: > > database test > ... > f1 = formonly.foo type like test_tbl.col_one not null; > If it is a bug... maybe '.03 release has the fix ... just got it > this morning. I think it's a documentation error. Since NOT NULL is part of the column type, it shouldn't be used with a LIKE. I think that this syntax: fieldtag = FORMONLY.field_name [TYPE [data_type | LIKE table.column]] [NOT NULL] [,attr_list]; ^^^^^^^^^^ should read: fieldtag = FORMONLY.field_name [TYPE [data_type [NOT NULL] | LIKE table.column]] [,attr_list]; ^^^^^^^^^^ I tested this to make sure. If you define a formnly field LIKE a column and that column is NOT NULL, the formonly field properly picks up the NOT NULL characteristic. If you define a formonly field LIKE a column that allows nulls, the formonly field likewise allows nulls. If you omit the whole TYPE entry, the field type defaults to CHAR. > Brian : UC San Francisco :...!{ucbvax,uunet}!daedalus.ucsf.edu!brianc > Colfer : Dept. of Lab. Medicine : brianc@daedalus.ucsf.edu > : PH. 415-476-2325 : BRIANC@UCSFCCA.BITNET P.S.: nice example of space/null management in your previos posting... -- Alan S. Denney | Informix Software, Inc. | {pyramid|uunet}!infmx!aland Disclaimer: These opinions are mine alone. If I am caught or killed, the secretary will disavow any knowledge of my actions. Santos' 4th Law: "Anything worth fighting for is worth fighting *dirty* for"