# File lib/geo_ruby/shp4r/dbf.rb, line 166
        def initialize(name, type, length, decimal = 0)
          raise FieldError, "field length must be greater than 0" unless length > 0
          if type == 'N' and decimal != 0
            type = 'F'
          end
          @name, @type, @length, @decimal = name.strip, type,length, decimal
        end