A data field is the basic object you use on a form to collect data from the user. You define a data field by its field picture and its field type. The field picture controls the length of the data field and the type of character that the user can enter at each position in the field. The field type controls how your application stores this value. You create a data field using the Designer or in code using fld_def().
Vermont Views supports the following standard data field types: character, Boolean, check box, string, date, time, decimal, integer, short integer, long integer, single-precision floating point, and double-precision floating point. Vermont Views also supports several field types that provide extensions to the standard data field types. The extended field types are described in Chapter 8, "Extended Data Field Types."
This chapter describes the basic information you need to understand when you create a data field: #including the correct header files, identifying the underlying data types, creating field pictures, and using picture control characters (the elements of a field picture).
