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4.3.4.2.1. Data types of a text entry field
It is very important that the data type for text fields is specified correctly. Specifying the data type tells
the program what kind of data is expected in the field: digits, or letters of a certain alphabet, or
characters from a certain set, a date, etc. The program has a flexible mechanism for specifying data
types. The user is provided with a ready-made set of data types that includes the most common types. In
addition, users can create their own data types to perform a specific task.
When specifying data types, you can set up the value format check and value constraints, for example,
maximum and minimum values for a number or a time interval for a date.
The data type is specified on the Data Type tab of a field’s Properties dialog box (Figure 7).
Select the desired category from the Content list. In the Details field, you will see a description of one
of the data types of this category (either the default one or the one that you set up earlier).
If Process value as text is selected, the values of fields with any type of content will be processed and
exported as text.
If you wish to change the recognition language or set a narrower data type, click the Edit… button to the
right of the description.
The following options are available for the standard data types (General is selected in the Content
settings list):
• For Text, you can select multiple recognition languages (the “…” button), use the built-in
and/or custom dictionary (the program will check field values against the dictionary you
specify)
• For Number, you can select Integer, if you expect the value of the field to be an integer
• For Date, you can select the order of date components, specify if the month can be written as a
word, and specify if the date may include time or day of the week
• For Address, Name, and Code, you can specify a custom dictionary
The special data types (Special is selected in the Content settings list) contain predefined data types
from which you can select the data type most suitable for a given field. Consult the descriptions
displayed at the bottom of the dialog box when selecting a data type.
If non of the data types in the list suits your purposes, you can create your own data type:
1. On the Data Type tab of the field properties dialog box, select one of the items from the
Content list. You can select any item that best corresponds to the nature of your data type. This
choice will not in any way affect the creation of the data type: the newly created data type will
only be stored under this category.
2. Click the Edit… button to the right of the Details field. In the dialog box that appears, select
Special in the Content settings field. Click New… to the right of the Select data type field.
3. Follow the prompts of the data type creation wizard.