Number
A numerical value. If no default value is specified, a Number type defaults to the value 0 (zero). User attributes of Number type may be configured, at first creation, as 'sequential'. This is like a database counter field, where the next unused number is issued and values no longer used are not re-issued; i.e. the next number is always higher than the last.
Very large or small numbers may be displayed (and set) in exponential notation:
0.000001 = 1e-06
$MyNum = 1.2e+3 sets '1200'
When very large or small number strings are typed into a Key Attributes box the result may be '0', in which case use exponential notation.
The Key Attribute display will also truncate the number of decimal places shown. The display limits seem to be:
- Whole (non decimal) numbers will display up to 9 digits, i.e. between between -999999999 and 999999999.
- Numbers over 1, positive or negative, will display 6 digits e.g. 150.123 or 1.12346.
- Numbers over 1, positive or negative, will display 6 decimal places e.g. 0.0.12345.
When typing/pasting in number values to a KA box the input value is stored - not the rounded/truncated visible value. To see the decimal places in full coerce the value to a string, e.g. set a string attribute to the value of the number attribute. Beware that values copied from a Key Attribute display box use the visible value and not the real underlying value, so passing the number to a string and reading the latter is useful if data fidelity is required
Note that when a new sequential attribute is added to an existing document, the already-created notes are initialised with sequential values of the new attribute; previously notes pre-existing the attribute received no value.
Listing of Number-type system attributes.
