RE: Batch changes to TL Ashford label formats

Scott,

Thanks for the reply.  I had already found the BCFMTS file, was hoping
somebody would have a generic CHGTLALBL command already put together <grin>

In any event it is good to know that at least somebody else has done this
successfully.

Charles


> -----Original Message-----
> From: Scott Klement [mailto:klemscot@xxxxxxxxxxxx]
> Sent: Friday, March 12, 2004 12:28 PM
> To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion
> Subject: Re: Batch changes to TL Ashford label formats
> 
> 
> Hi Charles,
> 
> > We've run into a situation where we may need to modify a 
> substantial number
> > of TL Ashford label formats.  Specifically, we need to 
> change from one
> > printer type to another or change the size of a horizontal line.
> [SNIP]
> > I'm hoping somebody out there has figured out a way to do 
> this in batch.
> 
> I've done "mass changes" like this by writing an RPG program 
> that directly
> changes the data in TL Ashford's files.  Of course, just because it's
> worked for me does not mean that it'd work for you.   It's definitely
> not a method supported by TL Ashford. :)
> 
> Here's how I go about it:
> 
> a) Make a backup of the TLABARCODE library (or whatever you call the
> library) This is a very important step, in case something goes wrong.
> 
> b) Take a look at the BCFMTS file in TLABARCODE.  It contains 
> most of the
> label data.  The record layout consists of a "key" and a 
> "data" section.
> The key is made up of a record type code followed by the 8-character
> label format name, followed sometimes by a 2-digit sequence 
> number.  The
> data is different depending on the record type.
> 
> c) Create a "test" label and experiment with the values that 
> you want to
> change.  See which positions of the various record types for 
> your label
> format are being changed and what they're changing to.
> 
> d) Create an RPG (or COBOL or C, etc) program that runs 
> through the BCFMTS
> file and changes all of the labels that you want to change.
> 
> e) Make sure you test that your changes worked properly...   if they
> didn't, you can always restore the backup.
> 
> Good Luck!
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