Defining an item Schema DDL
56 U929-J-Z125-9-76
4.2.1 Defining an unpacked numeric item [level-number ]item-name PICTURE IS mask-string.
Unpacked items can contain numeric values only. They can be used for arithmetic opera-
tions and can be printed out.
level-number specifies whether the item is part of a repeating group:
If the item is not to be part of a repeating group, the specified level number should be the
smallest level number in the whole record type. This is especially impor tant if the item is to
be used as a key item.
If the item is to be part of a repeating group, proceed as descr ibed on page 66.
The default value for level-number is 1.
item-name specifies the name assigned by the user.
mask-string defines the item value range, i.e. the symbolic representa tion of all possible item
contents, by means of a mask.
mask-string may consist of the following symbols:
Symbol Designation Explanation
SSign symbol
Mandatory, if positive and negative item contents are
to be distinguished. If S is not specified, UDS/SQL
assumes the item content to be a positive numeric
value. This symbol is specified once only at the
beginning of the mask string.
9Digit symbol
is the only symbol of the mask specifying a physical
storage location. This storage location can be filled
with a decimal digit. The digit symbol can be repeate d
any number of times. The frequency of repetition
determines the item length
Table 4:Symbols of mask-string when defining an unpacked numeric item (part 1 of 2)