Generic Dictionary Maintenance Screens

Introduction

The Generic Dictionary is a simple table that allows you to define "coded" fields.  For example, let's say you need to capture an "office location code" on the Report Data Screen and there are 4 possible values for the code.  Instead of relying on the transcriptionist to remember what the 4 codes are (and enter them correctly), you can build a generic dictionary that contains the codes and their associated descriptions.  Then you can add a field to the Fields table that links the field to the Generic Dictionary so that the user can press F1 to bring up the lookup screen.  Once the code is captured and part of the report, the code and/or its description can be printed anywhere on the report using a special bracketed field syntax.

Example

Let's say you need a table that represents "office locations".  You would first have to decide on a "NAME" for the Generic dictionary.  In this case "LOCATION" would be a good choice.  Next, you would go into the Generic Dictionary maintenance application and start entering the various office location codes and their descriptions.  The following is an example of what each field in the Generic dictionary would have for defining three office locations.

NAME        CODE                DESCRIPTION

LOCATION         H                Hudson

LOCATION         T                Twinsburg

LOCATION         K                Kent

Next, you would create a new field (using Fields Maintenance) that will be on the Report Data Screen.  You could call the field "120_OFFICE" and link it to the Generic Dictionary.  For the "Generic Dictionary Name" field on the Lookup screen, enter "LOCATION".

Special bracketed field syntax

To display the description that is associated with a Generic Dictionary item, you need to use the following bracketed field syntax.

[{table code}.{field name}.G.{generic dictionary name}]

In the example above, the bracketed field would be:   [U.120_OFFICE.G.LOCATION]