Assigning a default value to a transaction field

Use this procedure to assign a default value to a transaction field:

1. In the Transaction description dialog, select the field that you want to assign a default value to.

2. Click the Properties button. The Properties dialog is displayed.

3. In the Expression box, type an equal sign (=) plus a constant or expression that conforms to the transaction field's format.

   The characters that are valid in expressions for assigning a numerical default value to a field are the same as those for inserting numerical fields. The only difference is that you must type an equal sign before the expression.

   If the field is formatted to include text, then the default value can be text. Type text into the Expression box in quotation marks after the equal sign. You can also use a slash (/). (How?)

   However, you cannot retrieve text from one field and assign it to another field as a default value. For example, =Name is not a valid default expression for a text field.

4. Click OK twice to close the two dialogs.

Notes

• The maximum number of characters in an expression is 255.

• A default value applies only to the particular transaction field in which you indicate it. It does not apply to the same field mentioned in another transaction, nor even to the same field repeated elsewhere within the same transaction description.

• The default value of a field cannot be associated with its own value: When a field has a value, the default expression is ignored.

• A mark field, when it is filled in, receives the constant you defined for it in the form definition. An empty mark field results in no value except when you:

• Define a value for an empty field

• Specify a value to be assigned if FORMS detects the wrong number of filled-in fields in an indexed series

• Add a default expression for the field in the transaction description as described above.

• Decimals are allowed in all expressions. However, make sure that the format of the transaction field allows for the maximum number of decimals that can result from the expression.