Coding Standards for Database Files › Data Dictionary/Field Reference File › Standard for Field Reference Files › Structuring the Field Reference File › Primary Reference Fields

Primary Reference Fields

The primary reference field section should contain definitions for standard data types used in the system; for example, dates, names, indicators, and standard amount sizes.

Primary fields should not be referenced, except by secondary fields in the field reference file; for example, system files should not refer to them directly.

The format identifier used for all primary fields should be ‘@@’.

Include a field for each of the dimensions used for system quantities; for example, pounds sterling, tonnes weight, meters, and square meters.