RE: Why use variable length fields?

[Joe Giusto <JGiusto@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Thank you.  I scribbled this before I saw the other answers to the saving
space question.
I will take you word for it that I am actually saving space.  Now all I have
to do is wait for a practical application of this to use on my system.  Then
I will no doubt be searching the archives or asking questions on how to use
them to refresh my memory.


Joe Giusto II
Patuxent Publishing Company
10750 Little Patuxent Parkway
Columbia, MD 21044
mailto:JGiusto@patuxent.com <mailto:jgiusto@patuxent.com> 
http://www.lifegoeson.com <http://lifegoeson.com> 



-----Original Message-----
From:   R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr. [SMTP:rbruceh@attglobal.net]
Sent:   Monday, July 17, 2000 5:45 PM
To:     MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com
Subject:        Re: Why use variable length fields?

What you are missing is that you are looking at the definition, the
capability of the field, not the storage used.

Populate it with 30 character fields, and look at the storage size.

Then clear it, populate it with 100 character fields and look again at the
storage size.

ps. Put in LOTS of records, not just one or two.

===========================================================
R. Bruce Hoffman, Jr.
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - AS/400 Administrator
 -- IBM Certified Specialist - RPG IV Developer

"Those who would give up essential Liberty,
  to purchase a little temporary Safety,
  deserve neither Liberty nor Safety."

     - The Papers of Ben Franklin


+---
| This is the Midrange System Mailing List!
| To submit a new message, send your mail to MIDRANGE-L@midrange.com.
| To subscribe to this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-SUB@midrange.com.
| To unsubscribe from this list send email to MIDRANGE-L-UNSUB@midrange.com.
| Questions should be directed to the list owner/operator: david@midrange.com
+---