Understanding Your Data Model › Using Fields › Using Function Fields › Minimum (MIN)

Minimum (MIN)

The MIN usage type is given to function fields that contain the lowest value found for a field over a series of records.

A function field of usage type MIN has two parameters:

• Result parameter—The derived field itself. This must be placed on a header format of any function, which calls the MIN function.
• Input parameter—The field for which the lowest value is to be determined. This must be present on the details format of the calling function.

The series of records are defined by the standard function within which the function field is defined.

For instance, within an Edit Transaction function, a MIN field defined on the header could be used to calculate the minimum value of a field on the subfile record.

Fields of usage type MIN must always be numeric. If the function field is defined as a REF field, based on another numeric field,CA 2E assumes that the based-on field is the field whose lowest value is to be calculated. This method of definition cannot be used if the field to be calculated is not itself a numeric field.

Examples of MIN fields include:

• Smallest order item : minimum of order quantity
• Smallest warehouse location : minimum of location size
• Smallest town : minimum of town size