ID Options › How Format Identifiers Work › Define New or Redefine Existing Identifiers › Using the DEFINE Command Versus the FORMAT Option

Using the DEFINE Command Versus the FORMAT Option

Use care when using the DEFINE command to create shortened forms of identifiers. Unlike the FORMAT option, the DEFINE command can merge data about different identifiers. For instance, the DEFINE command could be used to redefine the ID option USERID to be the first four characters of the user ID. Using this command in the examples With and Without the Format Option instead of the FORMAT option merges the data for ABROWN and ABROWNING. Both user IDs would have been redefined to the same value, ABRO.

However, the DEFINE command offers more flexibility than the FORMAT option.

For example, the FORMAT option lets you truncate identifiers and retain the first characters. However, the DEFINE command lets you select any portion of the identifiers.

For instance, in examples With and Without the Format Option, the ID option USERID could be:

• Redefined to a length of four characters
• Begin with the second character rather than with the first