When creating GlobalSearch Fields, they must be assigned a Data Type. To instill consistency, whenever users enter values for those Fields, the values must GlobalSearch and/or the SQL Server database will ensure user entered values for match the Data Type. Data types are important for both enforcing the type of date entered into a field, in addition to searching for ranges and limits.
Character Field Data
The Character data type includes letters, numbers, and characters. Use this data type for alphanumeric data entry, such as names or for numbers which are a “string of digits,” such as a P.O. number or Social Security Number. You can change from any other data type to Character. You cannot change from Character to another data type.
Keep in mind that changing the data type will likely affect how the data sorts. For example, numbers that use the Character data type sort differently than with a numeric sort. 1, 2, 10, 11, 12, 2, 20, 21, 22 will sort into 1, 10, 11, 12, 2, 20, 21. For a Character Field, you can use the pound sign ( # ) to restrict the entry to digits in the desktop client, although it does not control the number of digits entered.
The length of a Character Field defaults to 50 characters. You can increase the maximum length up to 8000 characters.
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Numeric data types can only be integers (whole numbers, no fractions). If a decimal is entered into a Field with the Numeric data type, it will be rounded up or rounded down, depending upon the value. The appearance of Numeric Fields can be controlled with the Format box. (Refer to Values for Formatting Index Fields for details.) The Numeric data type supports values from -2^31 (-2,147,483,648) to _ 2^31-1 (2,147,483,647).
Date Field Data
Use the Date data type datatype fordate, time, or both date and time Fields. You can enter a date in many different formats, such as words (month and day spelled out), abbreviations (month and day abbreviated), one-digit or two-digit months and dates, two- or four-digit years, slashes or dashes, etc. The appearance of Date Fields can be controlled with Formats. (Refer to Values for Formatting Index Fields for details.) Date has a precision capacity of .00333 seconds (precision set to 3).
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If you create a Date/Time Field, but format it as date only, you can perform an “Equals” search on date. However, if you format it with date and provide a format that includes time, you can’t search for “equals a date,” so if date” without also providing a specific time. If formatting as date/time, your best bet is to search with use “Greater Than or Equal To” or “Less Than or Equal To.” |
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Instead of using “Yes” and “No” in a status Field, consider use date fields set with the @today variable. Then you would know not only that something is true (date present) or false (no date), you would also know at what point it became true. For example, you can create a Search to know that an email was sent (yes) or not (not), and if sent, when. |
Decimal Field Data
The Decimal data type can only include integers or decimals. Use for this data type for Fields denoting money. This Data Type has a precision of twoexpects two decimal places. The appearance of Decimal Fields can be controlled with Formats. (Refer to Values for Formatting Index Fields or details on formatting.)
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