Since you say it is output only, I would use your option B, flat file with a
record type at the beginning. Its easier (IMO) than a multi-format. Just
don't use packed fields. Too many times customer's don't want to or can't read
packed.
Sharon
-----Original Message-----
From: midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx [
mailto:midrange-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
On Behalf Of Al Mac
Sent: Monday, June 25, 2007 10:35 AM
To: Midrange-L
Subject: Non-RDB file
A customer needs us to send them our invoicing data in a format that is
non-compliant with programming standards I have used for past 20+ years
where all records in a file are the same layout.
Instead, if first field of record is
* Type-A header content then rest of record is type-A layout with like name
& address info that's going to be pretty consistent since bill-to never
changes, ship-to rarely
* Type-B line content then rest of record is type-B layout with details on
what we shipped
* Type-C totals content then rest of record is type-C layout with kind of
info we find at foot of any invoice
The resulting file will be like ABBBCABCABBCABBBBBC with any number of B
records in each set of 3 kinds
I need a mind-refresher of terminology where to look in DDS+etc. manuals,
how to set this up & process it.
I'm thinking maybe multi-format file.
Any program to create / access the file would need to either
* define it 3 times, one per format type, using matching records on invoice
# to control input sequencing, in the old RPG cycle,
* or read input as a "flat file" examine first field, then dump rest of
each record into A B or C corresponding layout data structure
-
Al Macintyre
Jack of many 400 trades, master of some, but not enough
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