Formats text in an object.

Property of

Entryfield, SpinBox, Text

Description

Use a formatting function to format the display and entry of data. While a picture gives you character-by-character control, a function formats the entire value.

dBASE Plus recognizes the following function symbols:

Symbol

Description

(

Encloses negative numbers in parentheses.

!

Converts letters to uppercase.

#

Restricts entries to numbers, signs, spaces and the SET POINT character.

^

Displays numbers in exponential form.

$

Inserts a dollar sign or the symbol defined with SET CURRENCY TO instead of leading spaces.

A

Restricts entry to alphabetic characters.

B

Left-aligns a numeric entry.

C

Displays CR (credit) after a positive number.

D

Displays and accepts entry of a date in the current SET DATE format. D should be the last function code when used with other function codes.

E

Displays and accepts entry of a date in European (DD/MD/YY) format. E should be the last function code when used with other funciton codes.

I

Centers the entry.

J

Right-aligns the entry.

L

Displays numbers with leading zeros. Overrides the $ function code and the $ and * picture codes.

R

Inserts literal placeholders, characters that are not template codes, into the display without storing them in the field. Literal placeholders, included after the R function code in a picture template, will be displayed with the value but will not be stored as data for the object. For example, if the value of a field named "Phone" is 4155551212, a template of "@R (999) 999-9999" displays the phone number as (415) 555-1212 but stores it as 4155551212. R must be the last function code if it is used with other function codes.

S<n>

Truncates a character string to a width specified by <n>.

T

Removes leading and trailing spaces from character values.

V<n>

? and ?? command only: Wraps a character string within a width specified by <n>.

X

Displays DB (debit) after a negative number.

Z

Displays zeros as a blanks.