Field specification for reading a DATE value

When the HCL Informix® product uses a display format to read a date string, the field specification defines the number of characters to expect as input.

This field specification has the following syntax.

Format qualifiers for reads

[ { - | 0 } ] [ [max_width] . [min_width] ]
Element
Description
- (minus sign)
Field value is left-aligned and begins with a digit; this value can include trailing spaces.
0 (zero)
Field value is right-aligned; any zeros on the left are pad characters that are not significant.
max_width
Integer that indicates the maximum number of characters to read.
min_width
Integer that indicates the minimum number of characters to read.

The first character of the field specification indicates whether to assume that the field value is justified or padded. If the first character is not a minus sign or a zero, the HCL Informix® product assumes that the field value is right-aligned and any spaces on the left are pad characters.

If the field value begins with a zero, however, it cannot include pad characters.

The HCL Informix® product ignores the field specification if the field value is not a numeric value.