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Developing BPM Applications with Developer Studio
Using dataslots : Supported dataslot types
 

Supported dataslot types

Table 37 lists the OpenEdge ABL dataslot types supported for BPM projects in both the Business Process and Web Application.
Note: For more information on ABL data types and their default values, refer to the Data Types section in the OpenEdge Development: ABL Reference guide.
Table 37. OpenEdge ABL Dataslot Types Supported by Progress Developer Studio for OpenEdge
Dataslot Type
Description
CHARACTER
A dataslot containing numbers, letters, and special characters.
LONGCHAR
A dataslot containing numbers, letters, and special characters.
DATETIMETZ
A dataslot containing dates. DATETIMETZ datatype has three parts: date, time, and an integer representing the time zone offset from Coordinated Universal Time (UTC). The unit of time is milliseconds from midnight. The unit of time zone offset is minutes.
Supports the following DATETIME-TZ formats in OpenEdge:
*yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSS(+/-)zz:zz or yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS(+/-)zz:zz
*yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss.SSS or yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss.SSS
*yyyy-MM-dd'T'HH:mm:ss or yyyy-MM-dd HH:mm:ss
*yyyy-MM-dd
For example, 1995-01-17T12:12:12.234+05:30 or 1995-01-17 12:12:12.234+05:30.
DECIMAL
A dataslot containing decimal numbers up to 50 digits in length, including up to 10 digits to the right of the decimal point.
INTEGER
A dataslot containing 32-bit data (whole numbers).
INT64
A dataslot containing 64-bit data (whole numbers).
LOGICAL
A dataslot containing logical data that is evaluated as TRUE or FALSE.
Handle
A dataslot containing a handle which is a pointer to an ABL handle-based object. This can be a static object defined during compilation or a dynamic object defined at runtime.
Rowid
A dataslot containing a unique internal identifier for a row within a single database storage area.
Memptr
A dataslot containing a sequence of bytes in memory. You can use this dataslot type to manipulate the contents of a BLOB database or temp-table field in ABL language.
Raw
A dataslot containing any data, including data from databases other than OpenEdge.
Dataset
A dataslot containing the values of ABL ProDataset. This dataslot can be mapped to DataSet or DataSet-Handle in ABL.
Table
A dataslot containing the values of ABL temp-table. This dataslot can be mapped to Table or Table-Handle in ABL.
List
A dataslot that treats a collection of related data items as a single entity. For example, a LIST dataslot can be used to hold choices for CHARACTER dataslots where the choices are dynamically determined by querying a database.
Map
A dataslot that enables you to select from a list of choices that can change dynamically. It also stores the choices that are made and these choices can be viewed and used in other worksteps.
Number
A dataslot containing a numeric value. The Number dataslot contains Double as a subtype. The numeric value is displayed as a decimal; for example, 2.2.
Document
A dataslot to which you can attach one or more documents, upload to or download from the server. There are no restrictions on the file type. The dataslot must be specified as an editable dataslot in a workstep if you want to attach a file to it.
Object
A dataslot containing a serializable Java object. Typical Object dataslot types include Vector and Array which are passed as input or output dataslots to Adapters.
Business Object
A dataslot that encapsulates all the data and behavior associated with an entity of a business process. This dataslot type can retrieve data from internal and/or external database sources.
Table 38 describes how these dataslot types appear in the presentation interface:
Table 38. Dataslots and associated formats for auto-generated forms
Dataslot Type
Format types
CHARACTER
Is displayed as text. There are three CHARACTER types: Text Field, Text Area, and Combo.
DATETIME-TZ
Represents a specific instant in time. There are two DATETIME-TZ types: Date and Time and Date only.
INTEGER
Is displayed as a numerical value and supports only Text Field as the format type.
INT64
Is displayed as a numerical value and supports only Text Field as the format type.
LOGICAL
Returns a value as TRUE of FALSE. This dataslot supports only Checkbox as the format type.
LIST
Is displayed as a list box with a list of entries. This dataslot supports only List as the format type.
MAP
Returns a key mapped to multiple values. This dataslot supports only Text Field as the format type.
OBJECT
A serialized Java object. This dataslot supports only Field as the format type.
Note: Format types associated with a dataslot are only applicable when you use the dataslot in a workstep with auto-generated HTML presentation. The HANDLE, ROWID, MEMPTR, RAW, DATASET, TABLE, and BUSINESS OBJECT datatypes do not have a format type.