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Configuring Multi-Field Keys And Names

In a number of places in the Cross Reference Keys dialog box, you can click the Browse button () to display a dialog box from which you can select or concatenate fields or field names when creating cross reference keys.

To select a key or key name

Click the Browse button. The appropriately named dialog box appears.
From the left pane, select the field you want to use for this key or key name.
Click the right-arrow button ()to move the field to the right pane
Click OK. The field appears in the selected text box

To create a concatenated key or key name

Click the Browse button. The appropriately named dialog box displays.
From the left pane, select a fields you want to include as part of this key or key name
Click the right-arrow button ()to move the field to the right pane.
Click one or more field in the left pane and move them to the right.
Use the Move Up and Move Down buttons to arrange the fields in the desired order.
Select whether you want to:
- Pad values to field width — Pad each field value (except for the last) with spaces to the maximum possible length of the field. For example, if the Account Type is "C”, with a width of 2 characters, and Account Number is "123”, the value is "C 123”.
- Delimit values with the following — Specify a character, such as a comma, to separate the values. In this case, the cross-reference value would be "C,123”.
Note: If you specify a delimiter, make sure that the delimiter value is not present in any of the individual key fields.
When you are done, click OK. The field appears in the selected text box.

Rules for padding

For text fields, the maximum possible length is dictated by the specific table. For non-text fields, padding is always done to the length specified as follows:

Data Type	Width
Boolean	1
Byte	4
Integer	6
Long	11
Single	9
Double	17
Currency	21
Time/Date	20

In general, delimiters are easier to work with, easier to read, and takes up less space. However, you must be sure that the delimiter value you select is not in the field values themselves.