Hey Uniface community! 👋 If you're still using the lowercase statement in your Uniface applications, it's time for an important update. With AI assistance helping me structure this post, let's dive into why you should migrate to the newer $lowercase function.

⚠️ What's Happening?

The lowercase statement has been officially deprecated in Uniface 10.4. While it still works, it's been superseded by the more versatile $lowercase function that works across all component types.

🔍 How the Old lowercase Statement Works

The traditional lowercase statement follows this syntax:

lowercase Source, Target

Parameters:

• Source (String): Content to convert to lowercase
• Target (String): Destination of converted content

Example:

vString1 = "ABC"
lowercase vString1, vString2
; result: vString2 = "abc"

🆕 Why Switch to $lowercase?

The $lowercase function offers several advantages:

• ✅ Universal compatibility: Works in all component types
• ✅ Modern approach: Follows current Uniface best practices
• ✅ Future-proof: Won't be removed in future versions
• ✅ Locale support: Better handling of locale-based processing rules

🔧 Migration Strategy

Converting your code is straightforward. Instead of:

lowercase vString1, vString2

Use:

vString2 = $lowercase(vString1)

⚡ Important Notes

• 🌐 Both methods perform Unicode-based character conversion
• 🏳️ The old lowercase statement doesn't apply locale-based processing rules
• 🔄 If you need locale-specific processing, $lowercase is your best choice

🎯 Conclusion

While the deprecated lowercase statement still functions, migrating to $lowercase ensures your Uniface applications stay modern and maintainable. Start planning your migration today! 🚀

This post is based on the official Uniface 10.4 documentation.

What's your experience with this migration? Share your thoughts in the comments below! 💬