Field expansion question

[Nancy Palmquist]

Tom Carey wrote:
> I have a 4.05.07 Dos based system. I need to expand the customer number 
> field from 6,* to 7,*.
>  
> This field is defined in other files and the field will have to be 
> increased in size in those files also.
>  
> I know that I have to change the field definition in all of the files 
> that use the field and change the indexing definition for those files to 
> reflect the increased length of the field. That field is used as an 
> index in all files. 
>  
> My question: Is there any file reformating process required after the 
> field definition changes are made? The modified indexes will have to be 
> regenerated. Is there anything else required?
>  
>  
> Thanks
>  
> Tom Carey
>  
> Creative users....They keep me employed.
> 
> 
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Tom,

I am a little late but I want to caution you about something.  You are 
changed a customer number from 6 to 7 characters but they are left 
justified.

So when you run reports that sort by customer number, it will sort them 
strangely.  For example,

123456
1234560
1234561
123457
1234571
1234572
1234573
123458

This can be very confusing.  It will also do things like this:

select "123456"

will select 123456 and 1234560 and 1234561

select "123456 " will only match to "123456"

If these are all numbers, you may want to make them integer (which would 
right justify them) or zero-fill to make all numbers the full 7 
characters, for example

0123456
1234560
1234561
0123457
1234571
1234572
1234573
0123458

That will correct the sort so you you get

0123456
0123457
0123458
1234560
1234561
1234571
1234572
1234573

I really hate left justified numbers for fields like this.  It can cause 
all kinds of issues if all the fields do not have the same size numbers.

While you are reviewing all the data entry, sorts and such for this 
field, it is a good time to make a choice to smooth this out.

Nancy


-- 
Nancy Palmquist 		MOS & filePro Training Available
Virtual Software Systems	Web Based Training and Consulting	
PHONE: (412) 835-9417		   Web site:  http://www.vss3.com