Specifying Constant Values
You can use constant values in certain ILF statements where a field name is allowed. You leave the application ID blank when specifying a constant value. Because there are different types of fields included within an APPX application, you need to understand exactly how to specify each data type as a constant value.
APPX stores or communicates data in any of three formats, and automatically translates between these formats as appropriate. The three data representations are:
The external or display format communicates data to an application user. This format includes characters such as $, -, and #, which often provide a more meaningful presentation to a user.
The internal or stored format allows APPX to store and manage data in a specified (and usually optimum) manner. For example, you may choose to store a numeric money field in packed decimal format.
The universal format allows you to reference a field within the context of ILF statements, regardless of how the data is stored or displayed.
Use the universal format to specify constants as fields within statements.
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