Default Length Properties

In the Length page, set up the initial properties assigned to any new fields you add to a message definition.

You can set default properties for a single message definition in the New Message Definition wizard when you create a new message definition or globally for your entire workspace by selecting Windows|Preferences|Sybase, Inc.|Message Designer|Message Defaults.

At design-time, when you create a message definition, the field inherits the default length properties you selected.

Length properties

FieldDescription

Termination Type

Select an option to specify how the end of the field is identified:

Delimiter

The end of the field is marked by a character string or binary sequence.

For example: A semicolon ;

Fixed Length

For all message instances, the field length is defined by a consistent integer value.

Minimum Length & White Space

A minimum number of characters are read from the field, continuing until whitespace data is read, which may include spaces, carriage returns, line feeds, horizontal tabs, or vertical tabs.

Minimum Length & Delimiter

A minimum number of characters are read from the field, continuing until a delimiter is reached.

White Space

The end of the field is marked by whitespace data, which can include spaces, carriage returns, line feeds, horizontal tabs, or vertical tabs.

Length Data Type

Select the default datatype for field length data. For complete definitions, refer to the list of supported datatypes and note the Length Type column.

Delimiter Defaults

Type

Choose String or Binary:

String

Select String if you are entering the delimiter value as a regular string, for example, $$.

Binary

Select Binary if you are entering the delimiter value in hex code, for example, 2626.

Enter Delimiter Value:

Enter the delimiter data that identifies the end of the field or container, for example, ;; (string data) or 3b3b (binary data).

No Default

When creating the message definition, length delimiters default to null.

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