Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Messaging and ESB

> ## getItemType function

> Returns the data type of an item in a `MapMessage`.

> #### Syntax

>     FUNCTION getItemType RETURNS CHARACTER (itemName AS CHARACTER).

> #### Applies to

> Message objects

> #### Notes

> - Possible values include `UNKNOWN`, `boolean`, `byte`, `short`, `char`, `int`, `long`, `float`, `double`, `string`, or `longchar`.

> - It returns `UNKNOWN` if the item does not exist.

> - The getItemType function cannot precisely determine certain data types. It is important to be aware of the following limitations:

> - String values — The getItemType function returns the `longchar` value for a data item consisting of a string longer than 32K. If the item is a string of 32K or less, the function returns the `string` value for both `CHARACTER` and `LONGCHAR` data. In the latter case, it is the responsibility of the 4GL programmer to know the order of items in the `MapMessage` and to call the correct function to interpret the data appropriately.
> - Date values — The getItemType function returns the `string` value for all date items. The 4GL programmer must know the order of items in the `MapMessage` and call the correct function to interpret the data appropriately.

> #### See also

> createMapMessage procedure, setBoolean procedure, setByte procedure, setBytesFromRaw procedure, setChar procedure, setDate procedure, setDateTime procedure, setDateTime-TZ procedure, setDouble procedure, setFloat procedure, setInt procedure, setLong procedure, setLongString procedure, setShort procedure, setString procedure, getMapNames function, getItemType function, getBytesToRaw function, getChar function, getDate function, getDateTime function, getDateTime-TZ function, getDecimal function, getInt function, getLogical function, getLongString function, getLongStringCP function

> For more information, see the "MapMessage" section.

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