Create a complex User Symbolic field

You can create complex User Symbolic fields to manipulate and calculate your data in a variety of ways. They use programs called subroutines to perform specific functions.

Steps

  1. Go to Tools menu > System Maintenance > User Defined Parameters > User Symbolics.

  2. Enter the details of the User Symbolic:

    1. In File, select the file where you want the User Symbolic field to be available.

    2. Under Details of Selected User Symbolic, click Go to Next Available User Sym.

    3. Select Complex Symbolic.

    4. In Symbolic Name, enter a descriptive name. This is the field name that will show in the Reporting window and anywhere else in the system that User Symbolic fields are available.

    5. In Subroutine Name, select a subroutine. If the subroutine you want is not available in the list, you can type the name in manually. For information on each option and what they do, see Subroutines for complex User Symbolic fields.

    6. In Subroutine Argument, enter the subroutine argument. This will depend on the subroutine you selected.

    7. Optional steps: 

      • In Conversion, enter a field conversion.

      • In Justification, enter a justification. For example, Left. This justification will be used in Listing reports in the Field (Across the page) orientation.

      • In Length, enter a number of characters. For example, 45. This length will be used in Listing reports in the Field (Across the page) orientation.

  3. Test your user symbolic.

  4. Click Save in the User Symbolics window.