Chapter 3: Building Production Objects

Creating edit mask filters

Click Edit Mask to create a filter that runs the edit mask against the data in the current blob and replaces the data in the current blob with the result. If e-Biz Impact is unable to run the edit mask; for example, if the data is not the correct type for the mask, the filter fails.

**Table 3-7: Edit mask filter keys**
Field (key)	Description
Edit Mask	Enter the edit mask you want to use to massage the input data.

You can filter and manipulate data with an edit mask as follows:

Limit number of characters displayed.
Suppress leading zeros.
Add a fixed or floating currency symbol.
Add comma and/or decimal separators.
Insert characters.
Display plus (+) and minus (-) signs.
Display negative values in brackets (<>).
Non-printing decimal alignment.

When defining a mask, use the letter “x” to denote alphabetic data and “9” to denote numeric data. Use the letter “z” to suppress the display of leading zeros. You can use the format “x(n)” where “n” is the number of alphabetic characters to display. You cannot place alphabetic and numeric edits in the same mask. If the input data overflows the display limit defined by the edit mask, the output data displays as asterisks (*).

You can insert any character into the output data by placing it in the edit mask. Use the underscore character (_) to insert a space character. Place one backslash (\) in front of any special characters you insert (for example, $, +, -, or other characters normally part of an edit mask). Use the caret symbol (^) to have non-printing decimal alignment in the output data. Place the caret in the mask at the position you would normally place the decimal.

**Table 3-8: Edit mask examples**
Input data	Edit mask	Output	Description
`001234.56`	`$zzz,zz9.99`	`$ 1,234.56`	Display field is limited to eight characters of numeric data with the currency symbol fixed at the far left of the field. The leading zeros are suppressed and the result displays with comma and decimal separators
`1234567`	`999\-9999`	`123-4567`	Display field is limited to seven characters of numeric data with a dash inserted.
`anderson`	`x(12)`	`anderson`	Display field is limited to twelve characters of alphabetic data.
`1234.56-`	`$$$$,$$9.99-`	`$1,234.56-`	Display field is limited to eight characters of numeric data with a floating currency symbol. The result displays with a minus sign (–) if the input data contains one.
`34.56-`	`zz9.99;<zz9.99>`	`<34.56>`	The output displays in brackets (< >) when input is a negative value and displays without brackets when it is a positive value.

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