RE: wrkobjlck to physical file

midrange-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

>   4. wrkobjlck to physical file (Dwayne Allison)
>
>Is it possible to do a work object lock and send the results to a physical 
>file?

Dwayne:

It's not directly possible, AFAIK. However, there are a few techniques that can 
make it "easier".

To start, the List Object Locks (QWCLOBJL) API will provide the list in a user 
space. Not quite a 'file' but having some attributes that can cut a step or two 
out. For example, a *USRSPC object can be used as the source object for 
commands such as CPY, CPYFRMSTMF, CPYFRMIMPF, etc., just as if it were a 
streamfile object. If the copy started at the first byte of the list in the 
space and the physical file had a record length equal to the length of a list 
entry, you'd practically have your result.

Unfortunately, I don't have a way off the top of my head for truncating the 
first couple hundred bytes off of a streamfile through any simple means other 
than just opening it with Notepad and deleting those positions. Perhaps a 
QShell utility has the ability?

However, there is a way of getting it done in CL, and in HLLs such as RPG.

In CL, you can retrieve the offset to the list in the *usrspc and then read the 
list entries in a simple loop. (In ILE RPG, you'd be better off getting a 
pointer and then retrieving list entries.) Each list entry can be placed in the 
input buffer for the Sort (QLGSORT) API and that API can output the entries as 
records in your PF. (In ILE RPG, you'd simply use the address of the beginning 
of the list for the input buffer and tell Sort how big the list was. For that, 
it isn't even necessary to retrieve the entries; just call the Sort API with 
the proper address.) When the Sort API completes, your PF will have the records.

Technically, this can be done in 'not very many' CL commands. An ILE RPG 
program wouldn't be much different in size/complexity.

I'd post a source example, but only have time to mention the possibility. 
Perhaps during the next day or so...?

Tom Liotta