Specifying Character Field Attributes

Use character fields for names, codes, and any fields with letter values. Also use them for numbers for which you want to contain formatting attributes and the data itself. Examples of such fields are those in which you enter telephone numbers and zip or postal codes. You cannot use character fields for calculations. You can enter decimal numbers in character fields, but you cannot use them mathematically until you convert them back to numeric fields.

You can specify character field attributes at design time, and you can access most of them at runtime with PeopleCode.

Field or Control Description

Field or Control	Description
Field Length	Enter a whole number between 1 and 254 for the length of the field.
Format Type	Select one of the following values: Uppercase: Converts the field value to uppercase and signifies that no other formatting options apply to this field. Use this option for code values, such as department ID, for which it does not matter whether the user enters the value in uppercase or lowercase. Uppercase is the default format. Mixedcase: Stores uppercase and lowercase characters as entered. Use this option for fields that contain textual data, such as a department or company division name. For example, Accounting - Receivables is more readable than ACCOUNTING - RECEIVABLES. Numbers Only: Forces entries to be numeric, which is useful for enforcing numeric values without redefining the field as a number field. This option automatically populates fields with leading zeros. For example, if the user enters 1 in a three-digit field, the system changes this value to 001. SSN: Formats the entry in U.S. Social Security Number format (999-99-9999). Define the field length as 9, even though the display length is 11. The system automatically adds dashes when formatting the field for display, but the number is stored in the database without the dashes. SIN: Formats the entry in Canadian Social Insurance Number format (999-999-999) and performs the standard check-digit verification for SIN. Define the field length as 9, even though the display length is 11. The system automatically adds dashes when formatting the field for display, but the number is stored in the database without the dashes. Raw Binary: Allows character fields containing embedded null values, such as encrypted values. Name: Indicates that the field entry uses the PeopleSoft standard name convention: `[Lastname] [Suffix],[Prefix] [Firstname] [Middle name/Initial]` The entry can contain alphanumeric characters, spaces, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Uppercase and lowercase characters are preserved as entered, that is, mixed case formatting is used automatically. Important: While a space is a valid character, it is not allowed immediately after the comma separating the last name from the first name. Valid entries might include: O’Brien,Michael Jones IV,James Phillips MD,Deanna Lynn Reynolds Jr.,Dr. John Q Phipps-Scott,Ms. Adrienne Knauft,Günter Note: For names that include Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (CJK) ideographic characters, different standard name conventions apply. See Global Technology: Using CJK Ideographic Characters in Name Character Fields. Postal Code North America: Formats the entry to U.S. zip code format or Canadian postal code format. Canadian postal codes are edited to ensure that alphabetical and numeric characters are entered in the correct positions. The following entry formats apply. Stored formats appear in parentheses following the entry format: 99999 (99999) 99999-9999 (99999-9999) 999999999 (99999-9999) A9A9A9 (A9A 9A9) A9A 9A9 (A9A 9A9) Postal Code International: Allows the entry of international postal codes. You must enter at least 7 digits. If you enter 9 digits, the system assumes that the value is a U.S. zip code; if the entry is in A9A9A9 format, the system assumes that the value is a Canadian postal code. The system formats the value accordingly. For all other entries, no formatting is applied. Phone Num North America (phone number North America): Formats the entry in North American telephone number format. The following entry formats apply. Stored formats appear in parentheses following the entry format: 9999999 (999-9999) 999-9999 (999-9999) 9999999999 (999/999-9999) 999/999-9999 (999/999-9999) Phone Number International: Allows the entry of international telephone numbers. If you enter 7 or 10 digits (and no other characters), the system assumes that the value is a North American phone number and formats it accordingly. For all other entries, no formatting is applied. Custom: If you select this value, the Family Name and Display Name fields become available for entry. These selections enable you to apply additional formatting attributes that affect how the field appears on a page.

Field Length

Enter a whole number between 1 and 254 for the length of the field.

Format Type

Select one of the following values:

Uppercase: Converts the field value to uppercase and signifies that no other formatting options apply to this field. Use this option for code values, such as department ID, for which it does not matter whether the user enters the value in uppercase or lowercase. Uppercase is the default format.
Mixedcase: Stores uppercase and lowercase characters as entered. Use this option for fields that contain textual data, such as a department or company division name. For example, Accounting - Receivables is more readable than ACCOUNTING - RECEIVABLES.
Numbers Only: Forces entries to be numeric, which is useful for enforcing numeric values without redefining the field as a number field. This option automatically populates fields with leading zeros. For example, if the user enters 1 in a three-digit field, the system changes this value to 001.
SSN: Formats the entry in U.S. Social Security Number format (999-99-9999). Define the field length as 9, even though the display length is 11. The system automatically adds dashes when formatting the field for display, but the number is stored in the database without the dashes.
SIN: Formats the entry in Canadian Social Insurance Number format (999-999-999) and performs the standard check-digit verification for SIN. Define the field length as 9, even though the display length is 11. The system automatically adds dashes when formatting the field for display, but the number is stored in the database without the dashes.
Raw Binary: Allows character fields containing embedded null values, such as encrypted values.
Name: Indicates that the field entry uses the PeopleSoft standard name convention:
```
[Lastname] [Suffix],[Prefix] [Firstname] [Middle name/Initial]
```
The entry can contain alphanumeric characters, spaces, periods, hyphens, and apostrophes. Uppercase and lowercase characters are preserved as entered, that is, mixed case formatting is used automatically.

Important: While a space is a valid character, it is not allowed immediately after the comma separating the last name from the first name.

Valid entries might include:
- O’Brien,Michael
- Jones IV,James
- Phillips MD,Deanna Lynn
- Reynolds Jr.,Dr. John Q
- Phipps-Scott,Ms. Adrienne
- Knauft,Günter
Note: For names that include Chinese, Japanese, or Korean (CJK) ideographic characters, different standard name conventions apply. See Global Technology: Using CJK Ideographic Characters in Name Character Fields.
Postal Code North America: Formats the entry to U.S. zip code format or Canadian postal code format. Canadian postal codes are edited to ensure that alphabetical and numeric characters are entered in the correct positions.

The following entry formats apply. Stored formats appear in parentheses following the entry format:
- 99999 (99999)
- 99999-9999 (99999-9999)
- 999999999 (99999-9999)
- A9A9A9 (A9A 9A9)
- A9A 9A9 (A9A 9A9)
Postal Code International: Allows the entry of international postal codes. You must enter at least 7 digits. If you enter 9 digits, the system assumes that the value is a U.S. zip code; if the entry is in A9A9A9 format, the system assumes that the value is a Canadian postal code. The system formats the value accordingly. For all other entries, no formatting is applied.
Phone Num North America (phone number North America): Formats the entry in North American telephone number format.

The following entry formats apply. Stored formats appear in parentheses following the entry format:
- 9999999 (999-9999)
- 999-9999 (999-9999)
- 9999999999 (999/999-9999)
- 999/999-9999 (999/999-9999)
Phone Number International: Allows the entry of international telephone numbers. If you enter 7 or 10 digits (and no other characters), the system assumes that the value is a North American phone number and formats it accordingly. For all other entries, no formatting is applied.
Custom: If you select this value, the Family Name and Display Name fields become available for entry. These selections enable you to apply additional formatting attributes that affect how the field appears on a page.