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OpenEdge Programming Interfaces

Data type conversion

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Table of Contents
  • OpenEdge Programming Interfaces
  • Data Management
    • Database Access
      • Database connections
        • Connection parameters
        • Secure database connections
        • The CONNECT statement
        • Auto-connect
        • Multi-database connection considerations
        • Run-time connection considerations
        • Connection failures and disruptions
          • Using CONNECT with NO-ERROR
          • Using the CONNECTED function
        • OpenEdge database connection functions
        • Balancing conserving connections with minimizing overhead
      • Disconnecting databases
      • Logical database names
      • Database aliases
        • Creating aliases in applications
        • Compiling procedures with aliases
        • Using shared record buffers with aliases
      • Data-handling statements
      • Adding and deleting records
      • Defining a set of records to fetch
      • Fetching records
        • Order of fetched records
        • Sample record fetches
        • ROWID and RECID data types
          • Comparing ROWID and RECID
          • Returning record ROWID values
          • Storing and retrieving ROWID and RECID values
          • Additional ABL support
          • Converting from RECID to ROWID
          • Writing DataServer-portable applications
        • Results lists
          • Navigating a results list
        • FIND repositioning
          • Repositioning after FIND fetches
      • Fetching field lists
        • Field list benefits
        • Specifying field lists in ABL
          • Queries versus record selection blocks
          • Shared queries
        • Avoiding implied field list entries
        • Updating and deleting with field lists
          • Updating and deleting with query field lists
        • Cursor repositioning and field lists
        • Field list handling in degenerate cases
      • Joining tables
        • Specifying joins in ABL
          • Specifying the type of join
          • Relating and selecting tables
          • Using joins instead of nested reads
        • Using inner joins
        • Using left outer joins
        • Implementing other outer joins
        • Mixing inner and left outer joins
        • Server-side join processing
      • The CONTAINS operator
        • The CONTAINS operator and word indexes
        • Word indexes and word-break tables
        • Creating and viewing word indexes
          • Word indexing very large fields
          • Word indexing double-byte and triple-byte code pages
        • Using word-break tables
          • Specifying word delimiter attributes
          • Understanding the syntax of word-break tables
          • Examples of word-break tables
          • Compiling word-break tables
          • Associating compiled word-break tables with databases
          • Word-break tables for double-byte and UTF-8 databases
          • Rebuilding word indexes
          • Providing access to the compiled word-break table
        • Writing queries using the CONTAINS operator
          • Syntax of the CONTAINS operator of the WHERE option
          • Examples of the CONTAINS operator
        • Word indexing external documents
          • Indexing by line
          • Indexing by paragraph
        • Word indexing non-OpenEdge databases
      • Sequences
        • Choosing between sequences and control tables
          • Using sequences or control tables
          • Performance versus capabilities
          • Transaction independence
          • Storage limits
        • Creating and maintaining sequences
          • Providing sequence security
          • Dumping and loading sequences
        • Accessing and incrementing sequences
          • Using the CURRENT-VALUE function
          • Using the NEXT-VALUE function
          • Using the CURRENT-VALUE statement
          • Resetting a terminating sequence
          • Referencing sequences within a WHERE clause
      • Database trigger considerations
        • Storing triggers in an operating system directory
        • Storing triggers in an r-code library
      • Using the RAW data type
      • Multi-database programming techniques
        • Referencing tables and fields
        • Positioning database references in an application
        • Using the LIKE option
      • Creating schema cache files
        • Building a schema cache file
        • Example schema cache file creation
        • Using a schema cache file
    • Application Security
      • Types of application security
      • Elements of an application authentication model
        • Authentication systems
        • Security domains
        • Domain registries
        • User credentials
        • Security tokens (client-principal objects)
        • User identity management mechanisms
        • Client context management mechanisms
        • Application authentication design options
      • Elements for authenticating ABL user identity
        • Authentication systems supported in ABL
        • Specifying user IDs and passwords in ABL
        • Password encoding
        • Security tokens in ABL
      • Authenticating and managing user identity in ABL
        • User identity applications
        • ABL for managing user identity
        • Client-principal objects
          • Unsealed and sealed client-principals
          • Client-principal object attributes
          • Client-principal object methods
        • Setting up and using domain registries
          • Identifying the trusted domain registry
          • Building and using a session domain registry
        • Authenticating and setting user identity
          • User ID (-U) and Password (-P) database connection parameters
          • SET-DB-CLIENT function
          • SETUSERID function
          • SET-CLIENT( ) method on the SECURITY-POLICY system handle
          • SEAL( ) method on the client-principal object handle
          • Initializing a client-principal for user authentication and SSO
          • Managing the client-principal after establishing identity
          • Configuring login sessions
          • Starting and maintaining user login sessions
        • Establishing database connection identity
          • Built-in client support for authenticating database connection identity
          • Setting connection identity with application-performed user authentication
        • Establishing ABL session identity
          • Setting the ABL session identity
        • Establishing and managing identity for multi-tier applications
          • Initializing a client-principal object for a multi-tier application
          • Managing user identities for a stateless application service
          • Managing user identities for a state-free application service
        • Establishing auditing identity
        • Creating and managing unique object identities
      • Authorizing access to procedures and database resources
        • Authorizing users from within a given procedure
        • Defining activities-based user authorization
          • Creating an application activity permissions table
          • Adding records to the permissions table
          • Including security checking in procedures
          • Protecting and maintaining the permissions table
        • Authorizing user access to tables and fields
      • Using ABL callbacks in authentication systems
        • Advantages of using ABL authentication callbacks
        • Running ABL callbacks
        • Adding an ABL callback to an authentication system
        • Extending the built-in systems where OpenEdge performs user authentication
        • Extending SSO-only authentication systems
        • Using ABL to implement user authentication systems
        • Creating an ABL authentication callback procedure
          • AuthenticateUser and AfterSetIdentity signatures
          • ABL authentication callback procedure example
      • Using cryptography to secure data
        • Creating and maintaining a cryptography policy
          • Setting a symmetric encryption algorithm
          • Setting an encryption key
        • Generating encryption keys
        • Implementing symmetric cryptography in ABL
          • Using ABL encryption and decryption functions
          • Example code using the ENCRYPT and DECRYPT functions
        • Using message digests in ABL
          • Securing a message digest
          • Generating message digests in ABL
          • Managing message digests
        • Managing and transporting crypto data
          • Objectives for crypto data management
          • Requirements for crypto data management
          • Crypto data storage
          • Crypto data management and transport
          • Planning for changes in size for encrypted data
    • Multi-tenant ABL
      • Running applications in a multi-tenant database environment
        • Existing applications
        • Super-tenant applications
      • Coding for super-tenant access
        • Setting effective tenancy
        • Tenancy identification
          • Identifying database connection tenancy
          • Identifying database record tenancy
          • Identifying tenancy in temp-tables
          • Identifying the tenants defined in a database
        • Super-tenant queries
          • TENANT-WHERE option of the record phrase
          • SKIP-GROUP-DUPLICATES option of TENANT-WHERE
          • Query examples without groups
          • Query examples with groups
        • Super-tenant data updates
        • Super-tenant sequence access
      • Using multi-tenant-enabled sequences
        • Using multi-tenant sequences with shared and group-configured tables
        • Restrictions for using groups and sequences
      • Managing access to tables with groups
    • ABL API for Data Admin, Multi-tenant and Table Partition Management
      • Overview of the API
        • API packages, classes, and interfaces
          • Interface naming conventions
          • Creating and accessing objects with the API
        • API entities and entity service methods
      • Instantiating a DataAdminService
      • Managing the service life cycle
      • Managing transactions
        • Table updates that require two transactions
      • Maintaining multi-tenant and table partition entities
        • Areas (creating and reading)
        • Authentication systems (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
        • Domains (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
        • Schema (reading, loading, and updating)
        • Sequences (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
        • Tables (reading and updating)
        • Table permissions (reading and updating)
        • Tenants (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
          • Getting a tenant by an external ID
        • Tenant groups (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
        • Users (creating, reading, updating and deleting)
        • User permissions (reading)
        • Partitions (creating, reading, updating, deleting, enabling and allocating)
        • Working with partitions
          • Splitting a Partition
      • Filtering and sorting
        • Filter expressions
        • Filtering on a child collection using the RequestInfo class
          • IRequestInfo interface properties
          • IRequestInfo interface methods
      • Exporting and importing
        • Exporting and importing objects as JSON files
        • Exporting tenants and tenant groups as ABL code
      • Exporting and Importing Partition Policies and Details
      • Executing DataAdminService utilities
        • IDataAdminUtility interface
        • DeallocateUtility class
        • PartitionMergeUtility class
          • Merge one partition into a target partition
          • Merge multiple partitions into a target partition
        • PartitionSplitUtility class
          • Split from a composite partition
          • Split from an allocated partition detail
        • Dump and load table data using Data Admin Utilities
      • Handling errors
        • Handling data errors with the DataAdminErrorHandler class
        • Controlling data errors with the IDataAdminService interface
          • IDataAminService interface public properties for error handling
          • IDataAminService interface public methods for error handling
    • Auditing
      • Setting up application security for auditing
        • Configuring the auditing identity
        • Asserting the auditing identity
          • Using the database connection ID
          • Using the OpenEdge session ID
          • Application design considerations
        • Verifying that auditing is enabled
        • Configuring auditing privileges
      • Recording application events
        • Planning application events
        • ABL for generating application events
        • Instructing OpenEdge to record an application event
        • Managing audit event context
          • Generating client login session context
          • Generating application context
          • Generating audit event groups
        • Application design considerations
          • Supporting OERA-conformant clients
          • Examining active audit policies
      • Developing auditing tools
        • Custom audit configuration tools
          • Accessing the audit policy tables
          • Accessing the Audit Policy Maintenance APIs
          • Audit configuration security
        • Custom audit archiving tools
          • Accessing the audit data and supporting tables
          • Handling archiving requirements
          • Audit archiving security
  • Input/Output Processes
    • Handling User Input
      • Making HTTP(S) requests from ABL applications
        • Introduction
        • Configuration
        • Basic request-response functionality
          • OpenEdge.Net.HTTP.IHttpRequest
          • OpenEdge.Net.HTTP.HttpClient
          • OpenEdge.Net.HTTP.IHttpResponse
          • OpenEdge.Net.URI
        • Implementing stateful clients with cookies
        • Security considerations
      • The keyboard and the mouse
        • Key mapping
        • Key monitoring
        • Key translation functions
      • Key codes and key labels
      • Key functions
      • Changing the function of a key
      • Using mouse buttons and events
        • Portable and physical buttons
        • Specifying mouse events
          • Portable and three-button event priority
          • Low-level and high-level events
      • Telling the AVM how to continue processing
      • Monitoring keystrokes during data entry
        • Editing blocks
        • User interface triggers
        • Using editing blocks and user interface triggers
    • Alternate I/O Sources
      • Understanding input and output
      • Changing the output destination
        • Output to printers
        • Additional options for printing in Windows
          • Getting a list of printers
          • Changing the default printer
          • Providing access to the print dialog box
        • Output to files or devices
        • Output to the clipboard
        • Resetting output to the terminal
        • Sending output to multiple destinations
        • Stream I/O vs. screen I/O
        • A printing solution
      • Changing the input source of a procedure
        • Input from files
        • Input from devices, directories, and the terminal
        • Receiving input from multiple sources
        • Reading input with control characters
      • Defining additional input/output streams
      • Sharing streams among procedures
        • Defining a shared stream
        • Using stream object handles
      • Summary of opening and closing streams
      • Processes as input and output streams (NT and UNIX only)
        • Portability issues
      • I/O redirection for batch jobs
      • Reading the contents of a directory
      • Performing code-page conversions
      • Converting nonstandard input files
        • Importing and exporting data
          • Using the EXPORT statement
          • Using the PUT statement
          • Using the IMPORT statement
    • Colors and Fonts
      • Making colors and fonts available to an application
        • OpenEdge default colors
        • OpenEdge default fonts
      • Assigning colors and fonts to a widget
      • Assigning colors and fonts to ActiveX Automation objects and ActiveX controls
      • Color and font inheritance
        • Overriding default color inheritance
      • Color in character interfaces
        • Widget states and color
        • Color specification
      • Colors in windows in graphical interfaces
        • Systems with the Palette Manager
          • Managing colors for multiple windows
          • Managing colors for bitmap images
        • Systems without the Palette Manager
      • Managing colors and fonts in graphical applications
      • Allowing the user to change colors and fonts
        • Establishing dynamic colors
        • Color dialog box
        • Color dialog box example
        • Saving a modified color
        • Font dialog box
        • Font dialog box example
        • Saving a modified font
      • Accessing the current color and font tables
        • COLOR-TABLE handle
        • FONT-TABLE handle
      • Retrieving and changing color and font definitions
        • Changing resource definitions
          • Portable color and font definitions
        • Using GET-KEY-VALUE and PUT-KEY-VALUE
          • Writing portable color and font definitions
      • Managing application environments
        • Understanding environment management
        • Using environment management statements
        • Managing multiple environments
          • Helpful hints for environment management
      • Managing color display limitations
    • Creating Reports
      • Report basics
        • Down frames
        • Text widgets
        • Control blocks and output statements
        • Basic report demonstration
      • Designing an interface for viewing report data
      • Converting widget values to report data
        • Printing reports and the STREAM-IO option
        • Formatting long text strings
      • Generating reports with control breaks and aggregates
      • Generating reports from multiple tables
        • Reporting information from one table
        • Reporting information from two tables
        • Reporting information from multiple tables
      • Redirecting output
        • OUTPUT TO and the default stream
        • Directing output to a file
        • Directing output to a printer
        • Directing output to multiple destinations
      • Designing frames for reports
        • Using base fields with the @ option
        • Using the HEADER of a frame for running page heads
        • Using the HEADER of a frame for running page footers
        • Programming example
      • Using the PUT statement
        • Using PUT for printer control
      • Summary
        • Generating simple reports
        • Redirecting output
        • Generating reports of data represented by widgets
        • Customizing reports
  • External Program Interfaces
    • Introduction to External Program Interfaces
      • Using MEMPTR to reference external data
        • Comparing MEMPTR and RAW data types
        • Initializing and uninitializing MEMPTR variables
          • Initializing MEMPTR variables using the SET-SIZE statement
          • Checking a MEMPTR variable for initialization
          • Freeing memory associated with a MEMPTR variable
        • Reading and writing data
          • Memory-writing statements
          • Memory-reading functions
          • Copying between basic ABL data types and MEMPTR
          • Manipulating bit values
          • Copying between database records and MEMPTR
        • Retrieving and storing pointers
        • Setting byte order
        • Defining a MEMPTR with Memory Stream classes
      • System clipboard
        • The system clipboard and ABL
        • Requirements for using the CLIPBOARD handle
      • Named pipes
        • Named pipes and ABL
        • Requirements for using named pipes
      • UNIX shared library and Windows DLL support
        • Shared libraries and ABL
        • Requirements for using shared libraries
      • Windows Dynamic Data Exchange
        • DDE and ABL
        • Requirements for using DDE
      • COM objects: Automation objects and ActiveX controls
        • COM objects supported in ABL
          • ActiveX Automation objects
          • ActiveX controls
        • Support for COM object properties and methods
        • Support for Automation object events
        • Support for ActiveX control events
        • COM object sources
          • Automation objects
          • ActiveX controls
        • Requirements for using Automation objects
        • Requirements for using ActiveX controls
          • Design-mode requirements
          • Run-mode requirements
        • Programming requirements
      • Sockets
        • Reasons to use sockets
        • Connection model
          • ABL socket clients
          • ABL TLS clients
          • ABL socket servers
          • ABL TLS servers
        • Server socket and socket objects
          • Using socket objects
        • ABL socket event model
          • Using events to connect and communicate
        • Programming requirements
    • System Clipboard
      • CLIPBOARD system handle
        • AVAILABLE-FORMATS Attribute
        • ITEMS-PER-ROW Attribute
        • MULTIPLE Attribute
        • NUM-FORMATS Attribute
        • TYPE Attribute
        • VALUE attribute
      • Single-item data transfers
        • Enabling and disabling clipboard operations
        • Implementing single-item transfers
          • Paste operations
          • Cut operations
          • Copy operations
        • Single-item transfer example
      • Multiple-item data transfers
        • Widget-based transfers
        • Data-based transfers
        • Multiple-item transfer example
    • Providing Help for OpenEdge Applications
      • Field-level online help
        • Status messages
          • Associating help text with database fields
          • Specifying help text with ABL
          • Defining help text with the AppBuilder
        • ToolTips
          • Implementing ToolTips with ABL
          • TOOLTIP attribute
          • TOOLTIPS attribute
          • Implementing TOOLTIPS with the AppBuilder
      • Online help systems
        • The SYSTEM-HELP statement
        • Accessing online help from the menu bar
          • Calling the Help Viewer
          • Calling the Index function of the Help Viewer
        • Calling online help with a Help button
        • Accessing online help with the help key
        • Quitting help when exiting the application
    • Named Pipes
      • Overview of named pipes with ABL
        • Access from ABL
        • Named pipes and files
        • Uses for named pipes
        • Operational characteristics of named pipes
          • I/O synchronization
          • Message interleaving
        • Advantages and disadvantages of named pipes
      • UNIX named pipes
        • Creating a named pipe
        • Deleting a named pipe
        • Accessing a named pipe within ABL
        • UNIX named pipe examples
          • Example 1: creating and using a named pipe from the shell
          • Example 2: using a named pipe with ABL
      • Windows named pipes
        • Accessing Windows named pipes
        • Linking OpenEdge and non-OpenEdge processes using Windows named pipes
        • Building and running the sample Windows named pipes application
        • Coding the ABL program
        • Coding the C program
        • Running the application
    • Shared Library and DLL Support
      • Using shared libraries
      • Accessing a shared library entry point
        • Declaring a shared library for static access
          • Options for static access to a shared library routine
          • Windows DLL calling conventions for static access
        • Declaring a shared library for dynamic access
          • Options for dynamic access to a shared library routine
      • Passing parameters to a shared library routine
        • Shared library parameter data types
          • Data type compatibilities
          • Other data type options
        • Passing arrays as parameters
          • INTEGER and DECIMAL arrays
          • INT64 arrays
          • CHARACTER and LONGCHAR arrays
          • MEMPTR arrays
        • Passing the Unknown value and NULL values
        • Using structure parameters
        • Using MEMPTR variables as parameters
          • Initializing and uninitializing MEMPTR variables
          • Passing CHARACTER values to shared library routines
          • Freeing memory associated with a MEMPTR variable
        • DLL routines and ABL widgets (Windows only)
      • Executing a shared library routine
        • Executing a shared library routine for static access
          • Options for shared library routine execution
        • Executing a shared library routine for dynamic access
        • Parameter data types
        • INT64 parameter conversions
      • Loading and unloading shared libraries
      • Code samples
        • Examples of static access to a shared library
        • Examples of dynamic access to a shared library
      • Prevent third-party library blocking of fatal signals
    • Windows Dynamic Data Exchange
      • Introduction to DDE
      • Using the DDE protocol
        • The course of a DDE conversation
        • ABL statements for DDE conversations
      • Structuring a DDE conversation in ABL
        • Conversation hierarchy
      • Defining conversation endpoints: DDE frames
        • DDE-ERROR
        • Other DDE attributes
      • Opening DDE conversations
        • Preparing the server application
        • Defining DDE frames
        • Initiating a conversation
      • Exchanging data in conversations
        • Demand-driven exchanges
          • Execute exchanges
          • Request and send exchanges
        • Event-driven exchanges
          • Steps to setting up event-driven exchanges - advise links
          • Coordinating DDE client/server communications
          • Applications for event-driven exchanges
          • Multiple conversations with advise links
      • Closing DDE conversations
      • DDE example
    • Using COM Objects in ABL
      • How COM objects differ from ABL widgets
        • Functionality
        • ABL mechanisms
      • Obtaining access to COM objects
      • Accessing COM object properties and methods
        • Property and method syntax for COM objects
          • Method reference
          • Property reference
          • Component handle expression
          • Method name reference
          • Property name reference
          • Data-type specifier
        • Specifying options for properties and method parameters
          • Understanding a COM object Type Library
          • Using data-type specifier options
          • Using data-type specifiers for properties
          • Using data-type specifiers for method parameters
          • Using mode options for method parameters
        • Restrictions on property and method references
          • Parentheses on method calls
          • Named method parameters
          • Default properties and methods
      • Managing COM objects in an application
        • Validating component handles
        • Managing COM object font and color settings
          • Managing fonts
          • Managing colors
        • Navigating ActiveX collections
        • Managing COM object resources
          • Releases and deletes
          • Release strategy
          • Releases and component handles
        • Error handling
      • Locating COM object information on your system
        • Using the COM Object Viewer
        • Accessing Type Libraries
        • Locating objects in the Viewer
          • Automation objects
          • ActiveX controls
        • Viewing methods, properties, and events
    • ActiveX Automation Support
      • Requirements for doing Automation
      • Accessing Automation Servers
        • Option 1: Instantiate Automation object by name
        • Option 2: Connect to top-level named Automation object
        • Option 3: Connect to or instantiate a named Automation object and file
        • Option 4: Connect to or instantiate implied Automation object and file
      • Managing Automation objects
      • Automation event support
    • ActiveX Control Support
      • How ABL supports ActiveX controls
        • An example ActiveX control in ABL
        • How ABL encapsulates an ActiveX control
          • Control-frame widget
          • Control-frame COM object
        • Control-frame attributes and properties
        • Additional control functionality
          • Properties
        • Special considerations for extended controls
        • ActiveX control restrictions
      • Creating a control instance in ABL
        • Understanding design time and runtime properties
        • Setting design time properties
        • Setting the ActiveX control name
        • Setting the control-frame name
      • Orienting a control in the user interface at design time
        • Setting control location
        • Setting control height and width
        • Setting control tab order
        • Defining invisible controls
      • Accessing ActiveX controls at runtime
        • Instantiating the control
        • Accessing the control handle
          • Using the Control-Name property of the control container
          • Using the item property of the control collection
          • The handle connections
      • Managing ActiveX controls at runtime
        • Managing tab order and Z order
        • Working with ABL key functions
          • TAB, BACK-TAB, GO, HELP, and END-ERROR
          • RETURN and Default Buttons
        • Setting graphical properties of an ActiveX control
        • Releasing control resources
          • Releasing ActiveX controls
          • Releasing COM objects individually
      • Handling events
        • Handling control-frame widget events
        • Handling ActiveX control events
          • Creating event procedures in the AppBuilder
          • Coding event procedures
          • Coding event procedure names
          • Coding event parameter definitions
          • Using system handles in OCX event procedures
          • Event handler example
        • Managing external procedure files
      • Programming ActiveX controls in the AppBuilder
        • Creating data definitions for an ActiveX control
        • Instantiating the control
        • Initializing the control
        • Using event procedures
        • Interacting outside of event procedures
      • ActiveX controls and examples installed with ABL
        • Combo box control (CSComboBox)
        • Spin button control (CSSpin)
        • Timer control (PSTimer)
    • Sockets
      • ABL for programming sockets
      • Overview of tasks to implement ABL sockets
      • Implementing an ABL socket server
        • Listening and responding to connection requests
        • Managing the server socket
      • Implementing an ABL socket client
      • Read, writing, and managing sockets on clients and servers
        • Defining and initializing MEMPTR variables
        • Detecting data on a socket
          • Data detection using the procedural model
          • Data detection using the event-driven model
        • Reading data on a socket
          • Specifying the read mode
          • Specifying the timeout length
          • Verifying the number of bytes actually read
        • Writing data on a socket
        • Marshalling and unmarshalling data for socket I/O
        • Managing sockets and their connections
      • Implementing ABL socket security
        • Configuring TLS servers and clients
          • Configuring TLS servers
          • Configuring TLS clients
        • Enabling TLS server connections
        • Connecting an TLS client to an TLS server
        • Invoking socket operations for TLS sessions
          • Identifying the TLS server in a client session
          • Deadlocking when a non-TLS client socket connects to an TLS server socket
      • Examples using ABL sockets
        • Socket example using a method as a callback
    • Host Language Call Interface
      • HLC and OpenEdge
        • Uses of HLC
      • Requirements for using HLC
        • Use the CALL statement
        • Map routine identifiers using PRODSP()
        • Indicate whether the C source code is thread safe
        • Guidelines for making the C source code thread safe
          • C run-time library functions interposed in the OpenEdge code
      • HLC files and directories
      • Build an HLC library
        • Object files shipped with OpenEdge
      • Write C functions
        • Top-level C function declaration
        • Return error codes from a top-level function
        • Name C functions
        • C function portability
      • Avoid common HLC errors
      • Memory allocation
      • Data size
      • Use HLC library functions
        • Access ABL data
        • Data type conversion
          • Convert C language data types to ABL data types
          • Convert ABL data types to C language data types
        • Call an HLC library function
        • Timer services
        • User interrupt handling
        • Use a library function that writes to a shared buffer
        • Pass error codes back to ABL
      • HLC applications on Unix systems
        • Handle raw disk I/O
        • Handle terminal I/O
          • Use the proscopn(), prosccls(), and promsgd() functions
        • Handle abnormal exits
      • Sample HLC application
        • Run the Tank sample application on Windows
        • Run the Tank sample application on Unix
        • Source code listings
  • COM Object Data Type Mapping
    • Data type conversion strategy
      • Converting COM to ABL data types
      • Converting ABL to COM data types
      • General conversion features and limitations
    • Conversions from COM to ABL data types
    • Conversions from ABL to COM data types
      • ABL to COM data type features and limitations
        • Array conversions
        • Pointer conversions
        • ABL data types not converted
    • Alternate COM data type names
  • Audit Policy Maintenance APIs
    • API overview
      • Reference to API procedure files
      • Using the generic utility and caching APIs with an application server
    • Generic utility API
      • cancel-import-from-xml procedure
      • check-conflicts procedure
      • export-audit-events procedure
      • export-cached-audit-events procedure
      • fill-audit-dataset procedure
      • getAuditEvents procedure
      • get-complete-dbname-list procedure
      • get-DB-Name function
      • get-dbname-list procedure
      • get-policies-merge procedure
      • has-DB-option function
      • isDBOnAppServer function
      • override-policies-from-xml procedure
      • policies-dataset-read-xml procedure
      • policies-dataset-write-xml procedure
      • setAppServerHandle procedure
      • updateAuditEvent procedure
      • update-auditing-policies procedure
    • Caching API
      • changeAuditDatabase procedure
      • export-cached-audit-events procedure
      • export-policies-to-xml procedure
      • get-audit-events procedure
      • get-conflict-info procedure
      • getDataModified procedure
      • get-merge-info procedure
      • getNextAppLevelEventID function
      • hasApplEvents function
      • import-audit-events procedure
      • import-policies-from-xml procedure
      • is-valid-event-id function
      • registerAuditTableHandle procedure
      • rejectChangesAuditDatabase procedure
      • resubmit-import-from-xml procedure
      • saveAuditEventChanges procedure
      • saveChangesAuditDatabase procedure
      • set-tt-hdls-for-dataset procedure
    • Exporting policies to XML
      • _exp-policies.p
      • _exp-policies-db.p
    • Importing policies from XML
      • copy-changes-to-dset procedure
      • import-xml-db procedure
      • import-xml-fill-dset procedure
      • refresh-db-cache procedure
      • save-changes-to-db procedure
    • Additional audit policy procedures
      • _aud-conflict.p
      • _get-audevents.p
      • _get-db-list.p
      • _get-policies.p
      • _update-policies.p
  • Change Data Capture ABL references
    • API entities and entity service methods
      • New( ) method (Table policy)
      • New( ) method (Table policies)
      • New( ) method (Field policy)
      • Create( ) method
      • Create( ) method (Table policies)
      • Get( ) method
      • Get( ) method (Table policies)
      • GetTable( ) method (Table policy)
      • GetFilter( ) method (Table policies)
      • Update( ) method (Table policy)
      • Update( ) method (Table policies)
      • Delete( ) method
    • Code examples
      • Create CDC policies
      • Create bulk CDC policies
      • Get CDC policies
      • Update CDC policies
      • Delete CDC policies
    • Enums
    • Interface properties (Table policy)
    • Interface properties (Field policy)
    • API to generate Change Data Capture policy program
    • ABL procedure to dump
      • Understanding the structure of a .cd file
    • ABL procedure to load
    • ABL support classes for CDC
      • CDCTrackingHelper class
      • CDCOperation enumeration
      • ABL examples
  • HLC Library Function Reference
    • Function summary
      • Shared-variable access
      • Shared-buffer access
      • Screen display
      • Interrupt handling
      • Timer-service routines
    • Function reference
      • prockint( ) - Test for Interrupt Key
      • proclear( ) - Clear the Display
      • procncel( ) - Cancel Interval Timer
      • proevt( ) - Set Interval Timer
      • profldix( ) - Return Field Handle
      • promsgd( ) - Display Message
      • prordbc( ) - Read CHARACTER Field
      • prordbd( ) - Read DATE Field
      • prordbi( ) - Read INTEGER Field
      • prordbl( ) - Read LOGICAL Field
      • prordbn( ) - Read DECIMAL Field
      • prordbr( ) - Read RECID Field
      • prordc( ) - Read CHARACTER Variable
      • prordd( ) - Read DATE Variable
      • prordi( ) - Read INTEGER Variable
      • prordl( ) - Read LOGICAL Variable
      • prordn( ) - Read DECIMAL Variable
      • prordr( ) - Read RECID Variable
      • prosccls( ) - Set Terminal To Raw Mode and Refresh
      • proscopn( ) - Set Terminal To Initial Mode
      • prosleep( ) - Sleep For Specified Interval
      • prowait( ) - Wait For Timer To Expire
      • prowtbc( ) - Write CHARACTER Field
      • prowtbd( ) - Write DATE Field
      • prowtbi( ) - Write INTEGER Field
      • prowtbl( ) - Write LOGICAL Field
      • prowtbn( ) - Write DECIMAL Field
      • prowtbr( ) - Write RECID Field
      • prowtc( ) - Write CHARACTER Variable
      • prowtd( ) - Write DATE Variable
      • prowti( ) - Write INTEGER Variable
      • prowtl( ) - Write LOGICAL Variable
      • prowtn( ) - Write DECIMAL Variable
      • prowtr( ) - Write RECID Variable
  • Command and Utility Reference
    • QUOTER utility
  • Database Administration Entity Interface Reference
    • IAdministrator interface
      • IAdministrator properties
      • IAdministrator methods
      • IAdministrator examples
    • IArea interface
      • IArea properties
      • IArea methods
      • IArea examples
        • Creating areas
        • Updating areas used for extents
    • IAuthenticationSystem interface
      • IAuthenticationSystem properties
      • IAuthenticationSystem methods
      • IAuthenticationSystem examples
        • Creating an authentication system
        • Updating an existing authentication system
    • IDataAdminElement interface
      • IDataAdminElement properties
      • IDataAdminElement methods
      • IDataAdminElement examples
    • IDataAdminService interface
      • IDataAdminService methods for Dynamic Data Masking
      • IDataAdminService examples for Dynamic Data Masking
        • Configure DDM settings
        • Unset mask for a field
        • Unset authorization tag for a field
        • Create authorization tag using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Delete authorization tag
        • Update authorization tag
        • Create role using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Delete role using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Grant role to a user using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Delete granted role using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Create user using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Delete user using OpenEdge.DataAdmin.*
        • Get mask and authorization tag for any field in a table
        • Get authorization tag and associated user-defined role
        • Get role grants for a user
    • IDomain interface
      • IDomain properties
      • IDomain methods
      • IDomain examples
        • Creating a new domain
        • Editing properties on an existing domain
        • Adding users to an existing domain
    • IExtent interface
      • IExtent properties
      • IExtent methods
      • IExtent examples
    • IField interface
      • IField properties
      • IField methods
    • IFieldPermission interface
      • IFieldPermission properties
      • IFieldPermission methods
      • IFieldPermission examples
    • IIndex interface
      • IIndex properties
      • IIndex methods
    • IIndexField interface
      • IIndexField properties
    • IPartition interface
      • IPartition properties
      • IPartition methods
      • IPartition examples
    • IPartitionOwner interface
      • IPartitionOwner properties
      • IPartitionOwner methods
    • IPartitionParent interface
      • IPartitionParent properties
    • IPartitionPolicy interface
      • IPartitionPolicy properties
      • IPartitionPolicy methods
      • IPartitionPolicy examples
        • Creating a partition policy for an empty table
        • Editing an existing partition policy
        • Creating a policy for a table with data
        • Renaming a partition policy
    • IPartitionPolicyDetail interface
      • IPartitionPolicyDetail properties
      • IPartitionPolicyDetail methods
      • IPartitionPolicyDetail examples
        • Creating a new partition detail
        • Finding by name
        • Finding last by value
        • Renaming of a partition policy detail
        • Setting a partition policy detail as read-only
    • ISchema interface
      • ISchema properties
      • ISchema methods
      • ISchema examples
    • ISchemaElement interface
      • ISchemaElement properties
      • ISchemaElement methods
    • ISequence interface
      • ISequence properties
      • ISequence methods
      • ISequence examples
        • Creating a sequence
        • Setting properties for an existing sequence
    • ISequenceValue interface
      • ISequenceValue properties
      • ISequenceValue methods
      • ISequenceValue examples
        • Changing the current value of a sequence for a specific tenant
        • Changing the current value of sequence in a tenant's sequence collection
    • ITable interface
      • ITable properties
      • ITable methods
      • ITable examples
        • Allocating table partitions
        • Managing partitions for a table
    • ITablePermission interface
      • ITablePermission properties
      • ITablePermission methods
      • ITablePermission examples
    • ITenant interface
      • ITenant properties
      • ITenant methods
      • ITenant examples
        • Creating and editing a tenant
        • Adding domains to a tenant
        • Adding tenant groups to a tenant
        • Managing partitions for a tenant
    • ITenantGroup interface
      • ITenantGroup properties
      • ITenantGroup methods
      • ITenantGroup examples
        • Creating and editing a tenant group
        • Adding tenants to a tenant group
        • Managing partitions for a tenant group
    • IUser interface
      • IUser properties
      • IUser methods
      • IUser examples
        • Creating and editing a user
        • Editing an existing user
    • IUserFieldPermission interface
      • IUserFieldPermission properties
      • IUserFieldPermission methods
    • IUserPermission interface
      • IUserPermission properties
      • IUserPermission methods
    • IUserTablePermission interface
      • IUserTablePermission properties
      • IUserTablePermission methods
  • Database Administration Entity Collection Interface Reference
    • Collection interface naming conventions
    • Common collection features
    • IAreaSet interface
      • IAreaSet properties
      • IAreaSet methods
    • IAuthenticationSystemSet interface
      • IAuthenticationSystemSet properties
      • IAuthenticationSystemSet methods
    • IDataAdminCollection interface
      • IDataAdminCollection properties
      • IDataAdminCollection methods
    • IDomainSet interface
      • IDomainSet properties
      • IDomainSet methods
    • IExtentList interface
      • IExtentList properties
      • IExtentList methods
    • IFieldPermissionSet interface
      • IFieldPermissionSet properties
      • IFieldPermissionSet methods
    • IFieldSet interface
      • IFieldSet properties
      • IFieldSet methods
    • IIndexSet interface
      • IIndexSet properties
      • IIndexSet methods
    • IIterator interface
      • IIterator methods
      • Examples for using the Iterator method
    • IPartitionCollection interface
      • IPartitionCollection properties
      • IPartitionCollection methods
    • IPartitionMap interface
      • IPartitionMap properties
      • IPartitionMap methods
    • IPartitionPolicyDetailSet interface
      • IPartitionPolicyDetailSet properties
      • IPartitionPolicyDetailSet methods
    • IPartitionPolicySet interface
      • IPartionPolicySet properties
      • IPartionPolicySet methods
    • ISchemaPartitionMap interface
      • ISchemaPartitionMap properties
      • ISchemaPartitionMap methods
    • ISequenceSet interface
      • ISequenceSet properties
      • ISequenceSet methods
    • ISequenceValueMap interface
      • ISequenceValueMap properties
      • ISequenceValueMap methods
    • ITablePermissionSet interface
      • ITablePermissionSet properties
      • ITablePermissionSet methods
    • ITableSet interface
      • ITableSet properties
      • ITableSet methods
    • ITenantGroupSet interface
      • ITenantGroupSet properties
      • ITenantGroupSet methods
    • ITenantSet interface
      • ITenantSet properties
      • ITenantSet methods
    • IUserFieldPermissionSet interface
      • IUserFieldPermissionSet properties
      • IUserFieldPermissionSet methods
    • IUserPermissionSet interface
      • IUserPermissionSet properties
      • IUserPermissionSet methods
    • IUserSet interface
      • IUserSet properties
      • IUserSet methods
    • IUserTablePermissionSet interface
      • IUserTablePermissionSet properties
      • IUserTablePermissionSet methods
Table of Contents

Data type conversion

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  • Last Updated: February 11, 2026
  • 1 minute read
    • OpenEdge
    • Version 13.0
    • Documentation

Data type conversion

HLC data type conversion happens in two directions:

  • From C language data types to ABL data types. This occurs when you write to an ABL shared variable or shared buffer.
  • From ABL data types to C language data types. This occurs when you read from an ABL shared variable or shared buffer.
Contents
  • Convert C language data types to ABL data types
  • Convert ABL data types to C language data types
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