Types of Field Rules

Description

The following list includes a brief description of each field rule in its own respective category.

Calculated Fields
Alpha Anywhere automatically calculates field values.
Auto-increment
Assigns incrementing field values as records are entered.
Default Descriptive Name
Changes the default field name; for example, "F_Name" to "First Name".
Field Description
Provides the status bar text that appears when a field is selected.

Required
Specifies that a field must contain data.
Masks/Templates
Inserts formatting characters, like dashes and spaces, and determines whether a number or letter can be entered in a particular location in the field.
Auto-Advance
Moves the cursor to the next field, when the current field is full; for example, after you enter both characters in a two-character state abbreviation field, the cursor moves to the next field.
Default Mode
Fills in a constant value that you provide, or the result of a default expression.
Skip
Causes the cursor to skip over the field, when you press the Tab or Enter keys.
Position Cursor
Places the cursor at the beginning or end of selected or non-selected text, when the field gets focus.

Case Convert
Converts values to uppercase, lowercase, or a combinations of both.
Speed Typing Glossary
Fills in a longer word or phrase, when you enter a user-defined keyword.

Double Entry
Requires that a field value be entered twice, to ensure data entry accuracy.
Min/Max Value
Specifies the minimum and maximum field values.
Uniqueness Test
Prohibits a field value from being entered in the same field for another record.
Cross-file Validation
Cross-checks a field value to a field value in another table.
Custom Validation
Checks the validity of a field value using a validation expression or user-defined function.

Simple List
Presents a pre-defined list of values for field entry.
Cascading List
Presents a pre-defined list, which can include multiple sub-lists, for field entry.
Table Lookup
Presents selections from an existing table, for field entry.
Conditional Table Lookup
Presents values for data entry, based on a conditional expression.
Previous Values
Presents values from a list of previously entered values.

Posting
Posts data from the current field to a target field, thus, you can add to, subtract from, or replace the target field value. Useful for keeping a running total, by using the Add Operation, or for tracking inventory levels, by using the Subtract Operation.