Specifications

Defining validation rules
292 InfoMaker
'Item ~'' + @Col + '~' does not pass validation test.'
You can edit the string expression to create a custom error message.
Different syntax in the
Report painter
If you are working in the Report painter, you can enter a string expression for
the message, but you do not use the @ sign for placeholders. For example, this
is the default message:
'Item ~'' + ColumnName + '~' does not pass validation test.'
A validation rule for the Salary column in the Employee table might have the
following custom error message associated with it:
Please enter a salary greater than $10,000.
If you enter a salary less than or equal to $10,000, the custom error message
displays.
Specifying initial values
As part of defining a validation rule, you can supply an initial value for a
column.
❖ To specify an initial value for a column in the Database painter:
1 Select Properties from the column’s pop-up menu and select the Validation
tab.
2 Specify a value in the Initial Value box.
Defining a validation rule in the Form painter
Validation rules you assign to a column in the Database painter are used by
default when you place the column in a form. You can override the validation
rule in the Report painter by defining an ad hoc rule for one specific column.
❖ To specify a validation rule for a column in the Form painter:
1 In the Form painter, select Properties from the column’s pop-up menu,
then select the Validation tab in the Properties view.
2 Create or modify the validation expression, as described next. To help you
work on the expression, you can use the button to the right of the
Validation expression box to display the Modify Expression dialog box.