On the Standard tab of the Field dialog, you can specify the context of character and object fields. Under the Specification box is a drop-down list box from which you can choose one of three context types for character and object fields. If one of them applies, it is highly recommended because interpretation improves.
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Geometric |
Geometric is usually appropriate for strings containing both upper- and lowercase letters, and it is the default option. FORMS uses the individual heights and some other characteristics of the characters in the string to reevaluate the interpretation. For example, if the result of an interpretation is "IriS", the "S" is reevaluated on the basis of its height compared with "Iri" and probably changed to "s". |
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Word |
Word can be appropriate for strings containing both alphabetic and numeric characters. Using this option, FORMS attempts to separate the interpreted string into words or units that contain letters or numbers only. For example, using the format X(1-20), Numeric+Alpha Upper+Alpha Lower+Space, FORMS divides "470 MAIN St" into three groups. Without this functionality, the interpretation of "0" in the first unit, 470, would be unsure since it resembles the letter "O". If Word context is selected, FORMS assumes that the first unit only contains numbers, because it can correctly interpret "4" and "7". As a result, the third character is determined to be the number "0". The second unit, MAIN, is assumed to be purely alphabetic, and consequently, the letter "I" will not be mistaken for the number "1". FORMS cannot specify the third unit, "St", as purely alphabetic, because the first character could be interpreted as either the letter "S" or the number "5". However, if the format is changed to N(1-6)A(1-14), the ambiguity is resolved. Note that you have to add "Space" as an additional format type for this to work. FORMS uses the spaces inserted to separate the units. In cases where strings are only made up of a single unit, FORMS tries to interpret the whole string as either letters or numbers only. |
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Geometric + Word |
Choose Geometric + Word if both context types apply. |
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None |
If none of the above options are appropriate. |