# Problem with a numeric field in a INPUT **URL:** \ **Category:** Forum\ **Tags:** Adabas-Natural, Natural, Natural-on-Mainframes\ **Created:** [May 2, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/problem-with-a-numeric-field-in-a-input/76648 "2008-05-02T04:24:56Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 4\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![JC1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@JC1](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/JC1)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 4:24am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/problem-with-a-numeric-field-in-a-input/76648/1 "2008-05-02T04:24:56Z")
hi, I am having a problem when trying to use a numeric field in a input command. when I run the program below, the user id exhibited on the screen is 5 bytes long, instead of 4 bytes as specified in the ‘‘define data’’. what should I do in order to have a numeric 4-byte long field on the screen, please? ```auto define data 1 w-userid (n4) end-define input 'Inform Userid:' w-userid (ad=u) ``` thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Jerome\_LeBlanc](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/user_avatar/techcommunity.softwareag.com/jerome_leblanc/32/111_2.png) [@Jerome\_LeBlanc](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/Jerome_LeBlanc)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:23am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/problem-with-a-numeric-field-in-a-input/76648/2 "2008-05-02T05:23:58Z")
The input is showing 5 bytes to allow for a sign if the number is negative. Try: ```auto input 'Inform Userid:' w-userid (ad=u sg=off) ``` ---
**Author:** ![JC1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6f9a4e/32.png) [@JC1](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/JC1)\ **Post date:** [May 2, 2008, 5:28am UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/problem-with-a-numeric-field-in-a-input/76648/3 "2008-05-02T05:28:41Z")
thanks a lot! my guess was this sign thing but i didn’t know how to fix it! thanks again! ---
**Author:** ![system](https://global.discourse-cdn.com/techcommunity/original/3X/c/d/cd19967bb605d28a72d77eb83a1cae22f3df2eb8.svg) [@system](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/u/system)\ **Post date:** [April 2, 2021, 2:49pm UTC](https://techcommunity.softwareag.com/t/problem-with-a-numeric-field-in-a-input/76648/4 "2021-04-02T14:49:25Z")