pjs.define()
The pjs.define() API is used within Profound.js modules to declare fields, arrays, and data structures with a strong data type.
To declare fields that are loosely typed, use the var clause in JavaScript instead.
Parameters
Field name (String)
Config (Object)
Shorthand Parameters
Field name (String)
Type (String)
Length (Number) - specify only if required for particular Type
Decimals (Number) - specify only if required for particular Type
Config object
A config object is required when defining fields. It is what gives your field attributes, like type, length, and decimal places. The following config properties are available:
Property name | Property type | Description |
---|---|---|
type | String | The following data types can be specified:
Some config properties only apply to certain types. |
length | Number | Specifies the field length. It is required for most data types; exceptions are:
|
decimals | Number | Specifies the number of decimal positions. It required for packed and zoned fields. |
precise | Boolean | Valid with “packed” and “zoned” type fields, and data structures defined with “extName” that contain packed/zoned fields. Set to true to define as precise decimal. |
varying | Boolean | Specifies that a character field is of varying length; otherwise, the field will be a fixed length field padded with spaces. |
initValue | String/Number/Boolean/Array | Specifies the field's initial value. |
dim | Number | This property turns the definition into an array. When declared this way, arrays start with an index of 1, similar to RPG. |
orderBy | String | Specifies the default sort order for arrays declared with the dim property. The orderBy property is used by array-related API, such as pjs.lookup(). Possible values are:
|
elements | Object | Specifies an object of subfields for a data structure. Each property within the object is the subfield name, while the property value is another config object. |
qualified | Boolean | Identifies a data structure as qualified, meaning that all references to its subfields must be qualified with the data structure name first; for example: MyDS.mysubfield = "myvalue". This makes the data structure similar to a JavaScript object. If qualified is not specified, the subfields can be referenced directly; for example: mysubfield = "myvalue". |
hybrid | Boolean | Identifies a data structure as hybrid, meaning it is both qualified and non-qualified. The subfields can be referenced both directly and using the qualified (dot) syntax. |
special | String | Identifies a special subfield and can only be specified on a data structure subfield configuration with the elements property. Possible values are: For a Status Data Structure (statusDS):
For an Information Data Structure (infDS):
|
nullable | Boolean / String | Use this property to create null-capable fields.
|
extName | String / Object | Specifies the name of a file that contains the fields used as the subfield description for the data structure being defined. The property can specified as a String that contains the file name or as an object with the following properties:
The file name can be qualified with a library; for example: "PRODLIB/MYFILE". |
like | String | Name of an already existing field which this field should base its type on. |
likeRec | String / Object | Specified on a data structure to make its definition like a previously defined database table. The property can be specified as a String, which names the previously defined record format, or as an object with the following properties:
When likeRec is specified, the data structure becomes qualified automatically. |
likeDS | String | Used on a data structure to specify the name of another data structure from which the configuration is derived. |
dataArea | String | Specifies a data area object to be associated with the declared field. The name of the data area may include a library. For example:
The data are object name can also be dynamic based on a Profound.js field. This is done by specifying a JavaScript object for the property that looks like this:
|
statusDS | Boolean | Identifies a Status Data Structure. A Status Data Structure is automatically populated with information about the current Profound.js module and job. It is an easy way to retrieve information, such as the current IBM i job name, the current user id, and more. |
userDefinedData | Any | Specifies user-defined general purpose data associated with the field configuration. |
based | String | The name of a pointer field that the declared field will be based on. The pointer will be defined automatically, if necessary. |
dateFormat | String | The format for a date type field. The available date formats are:
|
dateSeparator | String | The separator for a date type field. The available separators are:
This property is ignored if the field is not a date field, and also ignored for date fields with format "*iso", "*usa", "*eur", and "*jis". |
timeFormat | String | The format for a time type field. The available time formats are:
This property is ignored if the field is not a time field. |
timeSeparator | String | The separator for a time type field. The available time separators are:
This property is ignored if the field is not a time field and also ignored for time fields with format other than "*hms". |
parm | Name | Set to a field name in the calling function's argument list to initialize the field being defined with the argument field value. |
refParm | Name | Set to a field name in the calling function's argument list to define the field as a reference to the argument field. The field being defined will be initialized with the argument field value, and any changes made to the field in the current function will affect the field in the calling function. |
occurs | Number | This property is used to define a multiple occurrence data structure. Set to the desired number of occurrences. This property is ignored if the field is not a data structure. |
from | Number | Used to set the start position for a data structure sub-field. Set to the desired start position within the data structure's buffer. The first position is 1. This property is ignored if the field is not a data structure sub-field. |
to | Number | Used to set the end position for a data structure sub-field. Set to the desired end position within the data structure's buffer. This property is ignored if the field is not a data structure sub-field. |
ccsid | Number | Sets the CCSID for character, graphic, or UCS-2 fields. This property is ignored for other field types. |
rightAdjust | Boolean | For character-based fields only, if this property is true, it will align all the content to the right of the field. |
trim | Boolean | For character-based fields only, if this property is true, it will trim the content after the field has been assigned a value. The property has no affect on fields that are not varying length. |
static | Boolean | If this property is true, the field will never be redefined. The field will have the same place in memory every time it's used. For example, if you call a function which defines a 'static' variable and then call it again, it won't define a second time because it has already been defined in this scope. |
template | Boolean | If this property is true, the field will not actually be defined. Instead, the config and structure of the field will be saved internally so you can reference it with 'like' or 'likeDS' properties later. |
nullInd | Boolean / String | If this property is true, the field will have an internal flag which determines whether the field is null or not. The property can also be specified as a string to provide an Indicator field name, which will be used to indicate whether the field is null or not. |
prefix | String | This property is only available to the data-structure type. When provided, all the subfields of the data-structure will be prefixed with the property value. |
dataArea | String | Name of the data-area object you would like this field to be based over. For example: MYLIB/MYDTAARA |
auto | Boolean | This property is only used when a field is based on a data area. When set to true, the data area will automatically be read in when program module starts and automatically closed when the program module ends. |
export | String | Allow the variable buffer to be stored in the activation group (by name) |
import | String | Receive the buffer from the activation group (by name) |
overlay | String | This property can only be used on a subfield of a data-structure. The contents of this subfield will be based on another field name, as specified by this property. A special value of "*next" can be used to get the previous subfield's overlay, add the length of the current subfield, and use that for the overlay. |
overlayStart | Number | This property is used together with the overlay property. It provides the ability to specify where the subfield overlay should start, relative to the overlay field position. |
noPass | Boolean | This property is used with fields that are passed into the current function. If set to True, the field does not have to be passed. All following parameters must also be defined with 'noPass'. |
omit | Boolean | This property is used with fields that are passed into the current function. If set to True, the special value pjs.OMIT can be passed in place of the parameter. |
varSize | Boolean | This property is used with fields that are passed into the current function. If set to True, the passed parameter may be shorter or longer in length than is defined. It is then up to the called function to ensure that it accesses only as much data as was passed. |
string | Boolean | This property is used with fields that are passed into the current function. If set to True, you may pass either a pointer or a character expression. If you pass a character expression, a temporary value will be created containing the value of the character expression followed by a null-terminator (x'00'). The address of this temporary value will be passed to the called function. |
packeven | Boolean | If set to True, the packed field or array will have an even number of digits. This property is only valid for packed data structure subfields defined using from/to positions. For a field or array element of length N, the number of digits will be 2(N-1) when this property is set to True. Otherwise, the number of digits will be 2N - 1. |
fractional | Number | This property is used to specify the number of fractional second positions for timestamp fields. Valid values are 0-12. If not specified, the field will be defined with 6 fractional second positions. |
table | Boolean | If set to True and the 'dim' option is also used, the field can be initialized by setting the 'initValue' property to an Array. |
Examples
Example 1: packed decimal
pjs.define("Num", { type: 'packed decimal', length: 3, decimals: 2 });
Num = 5;
Example 2: date with initValue
pjs.define("loandate", { type: 'date', initValue: pjs.date('2000-01-01') });
Example 3: char field with pointer to that field
pjs.define("stg", { type: 'char', length: 4 });
pjs.define("ptr", { type: 'pointer', initValue: pjs.getBuffer(stg) });
Example 4: char field array with initValue
This does mean that every element in this array will be initilized with the initValue.
Example 5: Data structure with two subfields (non-qualified)
Example 6: Data structure array, qualified and two subfields
Example 7: Null-capable field with null assignment