Re: DSPF DDS CHECK(VNE)

[Simon Coulter <shc@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 08/04/2009, at 4:13 PM, David FOXWELL wrote:

> I have to admit that I find the IBM information very hard to  
> understand.

It's not difficult but you do have to concentrate. (A concept  
unfamiliar to the MTV generation but a necessary life-skill  
nonetheless.)

> Which is why I made this post. I am understanding, from the example,  
> that AB and VNE are combined so that a blank is then acceptable in a  
> zone with CHECK(VNE).

Unclear exactly what you mean by that sentence. AB will allow the  
field to be completely blank. It will not allow it to contain embedded  
blanks. Trailing blanks are always allowed.

> I still do not understand what is meant by "the name" in the help  
> text. What name?

The name being validated of course. The documentation states this is  
the case:

VN
Validate name
Use this code to specify that the data typed into the field must be a  
valid simple name.

VNE
Validate name extended
Use this code to specify that the data typed into the field must be a  
valid extended name.

Names are used to name objects on the system.

An input field has been defined. CHECK(VNE) is specified therefore the  
field is being validated to ensure it contains only characters that  
are allowed in an extended object name.

CHECK(VN) performs S/38-style validation. CHECK(VNE) is used to  
perform OS/400-style validation which has been extended to allow the  
use of '.' in a name plus other special characters if the name is  
quoted.

To answer your early query:

	What does "name delimited by double quotation marks" actually mean ?

Obviously, it means a name enclosed (or delimited) by double-quotes.  
For example, "lower" is a valid OS/400 object name. The system cheats  
a bit because the quote marks form part of the name itself thus  
reducing the 'real' name to a maximum of 8 characters. Although these  
are valid names the resulting object might not be accessible from a HLL.

A search of the Information Centre for quoted name would have enabled  
you to answer your own question. The first result explains all you  
need to know.

Regards,
Simon Coulter.
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