Field Characters

Each panel line has one or more fields, starting with a field character that specifies the field attributes.

Within the #FLD control statement at the top of the panel definition, you must specify which characters are required for different types of field.

You can use the following methods to define field characters:

Character mode—To specify character mode, use any special character other than an alpha or numeric character, and excluding ampersand (&), blank, or null.
Hexadecimal mode—To specify hexadecimal mode, enter the hexidecimal value for the character (for example, as X‘FA’). Use any hexidecimal value in the range X‘00’ to X‘FF’, excluding the values X‘00’ (null), X‘40’ (blank), X‘50’ (ampersand—&), X‘0E’, and X‘0F’. Hexadecimal mode is used when you need a very large number of field types within one panel and there are insufficient special keyboard characters available to accommodate all of the field characters you require.