Release 10.1A: OpenEdge Development:
Progress 4GL Handbook

Data typing

Some dynamic objects support entry and display data types other than CHARACTER. In particular, fill-ins and combo boxes support the full range of Progress entry and display data types. It’s important to understand that, for dynamic objects, this support is for entry validation and display formatting purposes only. The SCREEN-VALUE attribute always holds the data in character format, no matter what the object’s data type. You must make all necessary data type conversions using the appropriate functions (STRING, INTEGER, DECIMAL, etc.) when assigning data between the object’s SCREEN-VALUE and the field or variable you use for data storage.