In many Arabic countries the numeric keypad shows two sets of numeric characters. The normal 0 through 9 (called ARABIC) plus the HINDI numeric characters. HINDI numerics are treated as characters by the IBM i.
To support this type of display a field attribute may be used to cause LANSA to translate the numeric field into its character HINDI equivalent when being displayed on a screen or printed on a report. The reverse translation applies when the HINDI field is input from a screen.
The "HIND" attribute in Field Input and Output Attributes Lists may be used as either an input or output attribute. Irrespective of which list the attribute is specified in, the Hindi translation will apply to all input and output of the field.
The translation to and from HINDI in no way affects LANSA's treatment of the field. LANSA still considers the field to be numeric. Therefore all edit codes, edit words and other numeric only operations can still be used.
When a field that contains the 'HIND' attribute is displayed on a screen, or printed on a report LANSA converts the numeric field to a character field. Any edit code or edit word that is attached to the field is applied, before the Arabic characters are translated to their Hindi equivalent.
When a field that contains the 'HIND' attribute is input from a screen, LANSA converts the character field back to a numeric field. All editing characters are removed, and any decimal points and negative signs recorded, and Hindi characters are translated back to their Arabic equivalent.
These translations to and from Hindi characters fields are transparent to users and developers of LANSA applications. The use of character fields and the methods used for the translations causes some limitations and restrictions.
Limitations and Restrictions
