Before displaying or printing a multi-byte character, OpenEdge ensures that the display or print field contains enough columns to accommodate the entire multi-byte character. If there are not enough columns, OpenEdge does not display any of the multi-byte character and pads the columns of the display field or print field with spaces.

Note: OpenEdge neither splits nor truncates multi-byte characters to make them fit a display field.

For example, suppose you use the following format string, which specifies a seven-byte character field:

FORMAT "x(7)".

You want to display the following character string, which consists of four double-byte characters:

OpenEdge displays the first three double-byte characters in columns 1 through 6 of the field and a space in column 7:

OpenEdge does not display any of the fourth double-byte character, not even its lead byte, because doing so would split its lead byte from its trail byte, and the character would not appear properly.