6.9.3 Using the Round Function

In the previous example, fractional values can be entered in the units field. If a units value such as 2.3333 were entered, the value calculated for the amount field will probably contain extra decimal places. The round function rounds money values to basic currency units (two decimal places for the U.S.), and rounds real values to zero decimal places. Figure 2 shows how the round function is used to eliminate extra decimal places from the amount field.

Form Name ex2

Data File

Beginning form no Unique records no

Repeating form no Appended form no

Freeze form no Additional form no

Required form no for one record

Next form name ex2

gifs/00000001.gif

Field name units Field length 8

Entry Allowed yes Input required no

In Data File no Invisible no

Edit Data Type real

Field name each Field length 12

Entry Allowed yes Input required no

In Data File no Invisible no

Edit Data Type money

Field name amount Field length 14

Entry Allowed no Input required no

In Data File no Invisible no

Calculation round (units * each)

Edit Data Type money

Figure 2

The amount field contains the expression

round (units * each)

The amount field will always contain exactly 2 decimal places (with the default formatting set), regardless of the values in the units or each fields.

Note also that the expression entered into the Copy/Calculate field has several blanks in it. Blanks may be entered between different elements of the expression to make it more readable.