Use Dictionary Expressions (-dictexps) to specify that ABL use dictionary and help validation for all fields in all frames when you compile an application. ABL continues compiling even after it encounters a validation error.

This parameter serves as a temporary step to close possible validation holes in existing applications. It has the effect of adding a USE-DICT-EXPS option to every frame in the application, including those that are not used for input. This parameter closes all possible validation holes, but it is highly inefficient.

You can override this functionality for a particular frame by using the NO-VALIDATE keyword for that frame. See the Frame Phrase reference entry in ABL Reference for more details on the NO-VALIDATE option.

If you do not specify -dictexps, ABL uses dictionary and help validation for a field only if that field is used in an UPDATE, SET, PROMPT-FOR, or ENABLE statement. In addition, ABL does not use dictionary and help validation when compiling if you specify only the widget:SENSITIVE=YES construct to make a widget sensitive. ABL stops compiling when it encounters a validation error.