Use the attribute names everywhere - the only place attribute numbers belong is in D-type entries in the dictionary and in an equate table in a single basic include file.
________________________________ From: [EMAIL PROTECTED] on behalf of Bill Haskett Sent: Sat 28/01/2006 4:24 AM To: [email protected] Subject: [U2] [UD] Best practices I've been converting dictionaries from a D3 dbms and am wondering what is considered "best practices" in virtual attribute design. Does one build standard "D"irect fields first then use these fields to build virtual attributes (I-Descriptors) or should one use the direct field references, "EXTRACT()" or "<n,n,n>", in virtual attributes? DEPOSITED 001 D The date of the deposit. 002 2 VOID 001 D Is this a voided receipt? 002 12 DEPDATE 001 I The displayed deposit date (if not voided). 002 IF VOID = "" THEN DEPOSITED ELSE "*Voided*" or DEPDATE 001 I The displayed deposit date (if not voided). 002 EXTRACT( @RECORD, 2, 0, 0 ) ; EXTRACT( @RECORD, 12, 0, 0 ) ; IF @2 = "" THEN @1 ELSE "*Voided*" The obvious concern is if a direct field definition is renamed, then all references to the old field name need to be changed. I rarely rename a field, until I started exposing the data to other data sources and was forced to clean up the field names. So, hopefully, this won't be an issue in the future. Any thoughts. Bill Haskett ------- u2-users mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/ DISCLAIMER: Disclaimer. This e-mail is private and confidential. If you are not the intended recipient, please advise us by return e-mail immediately, and delete the e-mail and any attachments without using or disclosing the contents in any way. The views expressed in this e-mail are those of the author, and do not represent those of this company unless this is clearly indicated. You should scan this e-mail and any attachments for viruses. This company accepts no liability for any direct or indirect damage or loss resulting from the use of any attachments to this e-mail. [demime 1.01d removed an attachment of type application/ms-tnef which had a name of winmail.dat] ------- u2-users mailing list [email protected] To unsubscribe please visit http://listserver.u2ug.org/
