Re: How to break up a LARGE physical fil

Brian,

In a message dated 97-07-17 19:37:58 EDT, you write:

> How about a record format selector program?  I've never used one, but   
>  it's there on the CRTLF command (FMTSLR).  Programs specify the file name
  
>  for all IO operations, and the format selector program selects the format
  
>  name for record inserts.  Only the format selector needs to know the   
>  record format names.  Sounds simple, I wonder if it works?  See the   
>  DB2/400 Programming manual for more information.

It works, but is probably not appropriate for his application.  The FMTSLR
was primarily designed for migrating mainframe or S/36 applications to the
AS/400.  These are "flat files" where (usually the first) character of the
record defines the record layout, and you have multiple layouts within the
same file.  You can externally define each record layout as a seperate
physical file, and then populate them from the original using CPYF and
selection criteria based upon the "identifier" character.  Then, place a
logical file with each record format over all the physicals defining a record
format selector program (FMTSLR) at compile time for the logical.  Usually,
the logical has the same name as the physical file in the original
application so that all old programs can use it without recompiling.

I believe that the "DDS Reference" has an example of a format selector
program.  Take care, as only "C" spec's can appear in a FMTSLR program.  Six
years ago, I accidentally (out of habit) used some "F" spec's and spent four
hours on the phone with IBM trying to figure out my MCHnnnn errors before I
finally spotted it myself -- and this was when S/36 conversion was popular!

Regards,

Dean Asmussen
Enterprise Systems Consulting, Inc.
Fuquay-Varina, NC  USA
E-Mail:  DAsmussen@AOL.COM

"One of the greatest labor-saving inventions of today is tomorrow." --
Vincent T. Foss
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