Validate fields during record processing

During record processing, the fields in a record can be validated one at a time or in a particular order.

Search for	Example	Results
A single word	`cat`	Topics that contain the word "cat". You will also find its grammatical variations, such as "cats".
A phrase. You can specify that the search results contain a specific phrase.	`"cat food"` (quotation marks)	Topics that contain the literal phrase "cat food" and all its grammatical variations. Without the quotation marks, the query is equivalent to specifying an OR operator, which finds topics with one of the individual words instead of the phrase.

Search for	Operator	Example
Two or more words in the same topic	`AND` `and` `+` (plus symbol) `&` (ampersand)	`cat AND dog` `"cat food"+milk` `"cat food"&"dog food"`
Either word in a topic	`OR` `or` `\|` (pipe)	`cat OR dog` `cat \| dog`
Topics that do not contain a specific word or phrase	`NOT` `not` `!` (exclamation point)	`NOT cat` `! dog`
Topics that contain one string and do not contain another	`^` (caret)	`cat ^ mouse`
A combination of search types	`( )` parentheses	`cat + (dog \| mouse)` `cat \| dog + (! mouse)`

Note: To invoke validity table processing, see the related topics. You must validate each validity table definition before using it to validate data records.

Access the Format Control record for the form which you want to invoke validity table processing. If a record does not already exist, you must create one. For details on accessing and using Format Control, see the related topics.

Display the Subroutines process.

Enter validate.fields in the Application Name field.

Note: The logical values in the Add, Update, and Before fields are examples only. For information on how to decide when Format Control is processed, see the related topics.

Enter the applicable parameters for validate.fields in the Name and Value fields using the information from the following table:

Name	Value	Description
second.file	$file	Executes all validity table records (all fields) defined for the file being processed.
name	<field name>	Executes only one validity table definition (one field) defined for the file being processed. Note: You can repeat this type of definition in the Format Control subroutines section as many times as necessary. However, it is more efficient to call the subroutine once and pass a list of the fields to be validated.
names	<list of fields> or $<variable>	Executes a specific list of validity table definitions defined for the file associated with the form. For example, define a $ variable in either the Initializations or Calculations process of the Format Control record as: $fieldlist={"reason", "risk", "planned.start"} In the Subroutine call, specify the Value input as: Name: names Value: $fieldlist Note: You can use any variable name you choose, however, you are responsible for ensuring that your variable name does not corrupt a variable used by the application validate.fields.
text	current.format() or <form name>	Executes a specific list of validity table definitions defined for the form just displayed to the user.