By default, a data representation object associated with a database field displays the help text defined for that database field. You can define and store a default help string as part of the schema definition of a database field using the Data Dictionary. Creating help strings in the database schema provides a centralized location for help strings and makes them easy to maintain.
To define help text in a database field's schema definition:
1. Connect to your application database, for example, sports2000.
2. In the Data Dictionary, select a database table (for example, Customer) then click Fields.
3. Double-click a database field, for example, Name. The Field Properties dialog box appears:
4. In the Help Text field, type the text string you want to associate with the database field, then click OK.
You can then run a test program to view the message in the status area. For example, you can open the Procedure Editor and run the following program:
FOR EACH Customer:
UPDATE Customer.Name WITH 1 DOWN.
END.
You can then run this program to see your help text shown in the status area of the running window, as shown in the following figure.
Figure 41. Sample database field help text in the status area of a window
Note: Make sure that the test program involves an update to the database field. A program that just displays the field does not show the help message in the status area.
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