The EDIT_STRING field property indicates how to display the value of a field element. You can specify a CDO generic edit string or a language-specific edit string for the following languages: o COBOL o DATATRIEVE o PL/I o RPG When you specify a language-specific edit string for a field element that already contains a generic edit string, the language-specific edit string overrides the existing generic edit string. You should create a language-specific edit string when: o One or more characters in the generic edit string cannot be translated into valid edit string characters for a language that uses the generic edit string. Translation of CDO Edit Strings for Languages and Products shows how CDO translates characters in a generic edit string for COBOL, DIGITAL DATATRIEVE, PL/I, and RPG. o A language that uses the generic edit string does not support the data type of the field element that contains the generic edit string. If your programs fail to compile due to edit string or data type errors, the language may not support the generic edit string. If this is the case, you should create language-specific edit strings to exclude this language from accessing the generic edit string.