Re: Field Reference File (was SQL vs. traditional I/O?)

   What about edit codes?  When using DDS you can tell the file what editing
   to use on a field.  We do a lot with Social Security numbers and have a
   system edit code setup to display correctly (999-99-9999).  When using the
   iSeries Nagivator to generate SQL statements I get warning/error messages
   such as;

   SQL150D   10   EDTCDE (EDTWRD) in column DBT_ORIG_BAL ignored. 

   Can SQL define a column with predefined editing?  Sure saves a lot of time
   when doing adhoc queries, and works for date data types, dollar amounts, 
   Social Security Numbers, and the like.

   Jim

   At 02:00 PM 7/23/2004, you wrote:

     Jim,

     You can emulate a field reference file using the WITH NO DATA clause.

     CREATE TABLE EMPLOYEE AS
     (SELECT EMPLOYEE_ID, NAME, etc. FROM FIELDREF)
     WITH NO DATA

     Not sure if it was V5R1 or V5R2 it was introduced.

     HTH

     Paul Tuohy

     >> Jim Essinger wrote

     The other thing that DDS _can_ bring to the table is using field
     reference
     files, if you design your files that way.  Not do-able in SQL if I
     remember right.

     Jim