Display formats you assign to a column in the Database painter are used by default when you place the column in a DataWindow object. You can override the default format in the DataWindow painter by choosing another format from the extended attribute system tables or defining an ad hoc format for one specific column.
About computed fields
You can assign display formats to computed fields using the
same techniques as for columns in a table.
To specify a display format for a column in the DataWindow painter:
In the DataWindow painter, move the pointer to the column, select Properties from the column’s pop-up menu, and then select the Format tab.
Information appropriate to the datatype of the selected column displays. The currently used format displays in the Format box. All formats for the datatype defined in the extended attribute system tables are listed in the pop-up list (displayed by clicking the button).
Do one of the following:
Delete the display format.
Select a format in the extended attribute system tables from the pop-up list.
Create a format for the column by typing it in the Format box. For more information, see “Defining display formats”.
Format not saved in the extended attribute system tables
If you create a format here, it is used only for the current
column and is not saved in the extended attribute system tables.
Shortcuts
To assign the Currency or Percent display format to a numeric
column in a report, select the column, then click the Currency or
Percent button in the PainterBar or select Format>Currency or Format>Percent
from the menu bar.
You can add buttons to the PainterBar that assign a specified display format to selected columns in reports.
For more information, see “Customizing toolbars”.
