SOP-5-I-42Q-MES0099-C Mask Characters
42Q Home > Tools > Mask Characters
This edition applies to SFDC Version 6.1 and all subsequent releases and modifications until otherwise indicated in new revisions.
Contents
Introduction
The following mask characters and their respective definitions apply to Assembly, Attribute Definition Maintenance, and SDE (sub)modules.
Mask Character Glossary
a
Represents a single alpha character. Any uppercase alpha character is literal.
Example:
Aaa represents the letter A and any two other alpha characters.
n
Represents a single number. Any entered number has to be matched.
Example:
1nn represents 1 and any two other numbers.
h
Represents any hex character (0-9 and A-F). Uppercase H is the letter H.
*
Represents any alphanumeric character.
@
Represents any alphanumeric character, and all symbols and special characters, except for the double quote character (“).
$
A dollar sign is a valid character to use in a mask, or as an input value with $ or @ in the mask. However we want to caution you that inputs which contain $ will cause problems if scanned in as data for some !! commands, as $ represents a break for a data prompt to SFDC. Its best to avoid $ in any data scanned into SFDC.
. (period/dot)
Indicates that characters following this point in the input data are optional. It is valid for the input data to end anywhere from the period to the end of the input mask.
Example:
aaa.nn would mean 3 alphas, or 3 alphas and one number, or 3 alphas and 2 numbers.
[ ] [brackets]
Any number of mask characters can be enclosed in square brackets. This indicates that the character at this point in the input data must match at least one of these mask characters. Multiple (comma separated) character sets within square brackets, (1, for mask matching. If there is only one character set within the brackets, i.e. no commas, then it still matches one single character from the set. If there are multiple character sets, i.e. at least one comma, then the input must match completely with one of the character sets. Nested square brackets (brackets within brackets) are supported.
Examples:
- [1234]will match a single character which is either 1, 2, 3, or 4.
- [(3)n,ABCD] will match either 3 numeric digits or "ABCD".
- [1234[XY],ABCD] will match either "1234X", "1234Y" or "ABCD".
- a[123]aa would mean an alpha, followed by 1, 2, or 3, followed by two more alphas.
( ) (parentheses)
A number enclosed in parentheses serves as a repeat count for the next item in the input mask.
Example:
- a(5)n is equivalent to annnnn
c
The "c" character tells the system to compare this position in the input string to the code 39 check character calculated for the previous characters.
,! (comma and exclamation point)
AND NOT operator for use in input masks. This operator is a comma followed by an exclamation point (,!). Where the OR operator (,) separates either/or masks, the new AND NOT operator (,!) begins an AND NOT mask rather than an OR mask. Like the OR operator, the AND NOT operator is valid both inside and outside of square brackets. The sequence of OR and AND NOT masks is of no consequence. The input string, or portion of the input string, as the case may be: Must match at least 1 OR mask, and must not match any AND NOT masks.
Examples:
- (5)n,!9999n,QSYS(5)n,@@@ABC@@@,!@@Z(5)@
- QSYS[@@@@,!7011,!7012]@001
- QSYS[701n,!7011,701B,!7012]@[nnn,!000]
, (comma)
A comma outside any brackets is used as a mask separator. Masks between commas are considered complete masks. Comma represents an OR function.
Examples:
- [1234], a[234] will match a single character which is either 1, 2, 3, or 4, or will match any alpha character and 2, 3, or 4.
- (3)n, ABCD will match either 3 numeric digits or "ABCD".
