RE: Finding non-alphanumeric characters using SQL

[vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxx]

Elvis

DSPFs have things like valid values and some other stuff - but all that is checked when a function key or enter is pressed. He could use this technique to test an entry, then put back an error message if it fails. Normal stuff. For RPG people - not you Delphi and C++ folks!

Vern

-------------- Original message -------------- 
From: "Elvis Budimlic" <ebudimlic@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx> 

> I'm not sure about data validation on 5250 display... does it have a concept 
> of a "mask"? 
>
> As for database integrity, there is no substitute for check constraints. If 
> you had them on, you would never have to worry about ANY method putting 
> "bad" data in (5250 or otherwise). 
>
> Using RPG built-in for input data validation will probably perform better 
> than embedded SQL call to a TRANSLATE function. 
>
> HTH, Elvis 
>
> Celebrating 11-Years of SQL Performance Excellence on IBM i5/OS and OS/400 
> www.centerfieldtechnology.com 
>
>
> -----Original Message----- 
> Subject: RE: Finding non-alphanumeric characters using SQL 
>
> That is a really cool idea! My question may need to go to the RPG list, as 
> that would be my preferred language, but I have a similar problem to solve. 
> The difference is that mine is a text entry field, so all normal characters 
> including punctuation are valid. I could just build up a list of valid 
> characters and use the technique, but I wonder if there is a "better" way. 
> I need to validate at input time as well as clean up the database (maybe - I 
> might have fixed them all). The problem I have is people paste from email 
> and have characters that are not valid on a 5250 display. I'm not sure why 
> it allows them to be entered, but it does. Any suggestion as to whether the 
> below approach is better or if there is an easy way to check for characters 
> outside the "normal" range? 
> -- 
> Sean Porterfield 
>
> -- 
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