Double-Byte Character Set Support › Panel Definition Facility (PDF)

Panel Definition Facility (PDF)

The basic extension to PDF displays and enters DBCS data in Type X panel fields. A Type X panel field can contain DBCS data from any one of the following sources:

• Initial DBCS data defined during editing of the panel layout
• DBCS data entered by the application user
• DBCS data entered or modified through PDL statements in the application program

Important! If a statement in the PDL program modifies a panel field, it is the responsibility of the application program to guarantee that the DBCS data is surrounded with S/D and S/S characters as appropriate.

PDF prevents DBCS data in panel defined fields from accidentally displaying and modifying on non-5550 terminals by first translating the DBCS data to question marks (?). However, the DBCS data is properly preserved in the panel definition, and you can modify it on a 5550 terminal.