Automatic Editing and Error Handling › Automatic Editing

Automatic Editing

What is Automatic Editing?

The automatic editing capability of the CA IDMS mapping facility is used to edit and validate data entered in map data fields. With automatic editing, a map can tolerate greater variation in operator input, making it easier for the terminal operator to use.

For example, if month values are stored as 2-digit numbers (01 through 12) but the terminal operator prefers to see the month values spelled out in words (for example, January, February), automatic editing is used to translate spelled-out months into their numeric equivalents. The map developer can thus create a map that requests spelled-out months but stores their equivalent numeric values.

Editing Input

Automatic editing can perform any of the following operations on input:

• Verify that the terminal operator has entered data in all fields for which input is required
• Validate terminal operator input based on an external picture and a verification (edit) table
• Convert input to storage format based on a code table associated with a field
• Convert input to internal format using both the internal and external picture
• Validate that an input buffer contains data (content required)

Editing Output

Automatic editing can perform the following optional operations on output:

• Decode data based on a code table associated with a field
• Convert data to external format for display based on both the external picture and internal pictures
• Validate that a buffer contains valid data and aborts if not

When should Automatic Editing be Enabled?

Automatic editing should be enabled for a field (and the map that contains it) when the related record element has a usage other than DISPLAY:

• When zeros are to be displayed when an operator nulls the value in a field by pressing the ERASE EOF key, as specified by either of the following options:
  • The Zero when null option on the Map Read/Write Options screen
  • The ZEROED WHEN NULL option of the batch compiler MFLD statement
• When blanks are to be displayed in the field when the value for a field is zero, as specified by either of the following options:
  • The Blank when zero option on the Map Read/Write Options screen
  • The Blank when zero option of the batch compiler MFLD statement
• When underscores are to be displayed as specified by either of the following options:
  • The Underscore blank fields option on the Map Read/Write Options screen
  • The UNDERSCORE IF BLANK option
• When uppercase translation by field is selected