Data Dictionary Triggers Overview

A trigger is an editing or display routine that is attached at the dictionary level and initiated at runtime. Triggers are reusable objects and, therefore, automatically associated with each application that uses the data item. Triggers save time and increase the usefulness of the code because you can create the business logic only once and then use it within multiple applications. Triggers ensure accuracy and integrity of data across all applications.

Use triggers to perform these tasks:

• Establish field default values.

• Link data items to a user-defined code (UDC) table of values.

• Activate a visual assist search program when a user positions the cursor in a field.

• Establish rules and procedures that are embedded in the editing and formatting of the data for a field.

• Determine a next number scheme that developers should use when assigning a number to data.

Although you can override any of these triggers in Form Design Aid (FDA), you should anticipate how the data item will most often be used to reduce the need for overrides.