VALIDATE

The VALIDATE statement tests whether the value of a variable is within the range of values for a corresponding column in the syscolval table.

array is the name of a variable of the ARRAY data type to be validated.

first is the name of a member variable of record to be validated.

last is another member that was declared later than first in record.

record is the name of a program record to be validated.

• ariable is the name of a program variable to be validated.

If your program inserts data from a screen form, then 4GL automatically checks for validation criteria. If your program inserts data into the database from sources other than a screen form, you can apply validation criteria by using the VALIDATE statement.

This statement has no effect unless INCLUDE values exist in the syscolval table for at least one of the database columns that you specify in the column list of the VALIDATE statement.

If the value of a variable does not conform with the INCLUDE value in the syscolval table, 4GL sets the status variable to a negative value. If you specify a list of variables and receive a negative status value, you must test the variables individually to detect the non-conforming value.

The Validate LIKE Clause

The LIKE clause specifies the database columns with which to validate the variables. It has the syntax of the LIKE clause of the INITIALIZE statement:

column is the name of a column of table for which an INCLUDE value exists in the syscolval table.

database is the name of the database in which the column resides.

owner is the user name of the owner of the table that contains the column.

server is the name of the OnLine server. The @ symbol is required.

table is the name or synonym of the table or view that contains column.

Reference

DATABASE

DEFINE

INITIALIZE

INPUT

INPUT ARRAY

WHENEVER