Re: Extra record on iSeries to PC FTP

The DMP command can be used to review [DSPSPLF QPSRVDMP SPLNBR(*LAST)] for the last two bytes of the file data, to verify they are indeed 0x0D0A

Whether zero bytes following a CRLF constitutes an /extra record/ is unfortunately open to interpretation. If the receiving application insists that zero bytes of data following the last row terminated by CRLF [i.e. End Of Record delimiter for a stream of text data is 0x0D0A] constitutes a new row, then it would seem appropriate to concur with them, and simply tell them that the /extra record/ is there; i.e. by counting the same way they do, when generating the control file. Although as an effective null record [i.e. no data], it seems unlikely a database as recipient will deal well with that -- maybe create a row where all fields are the NULL value.? Yikes! I would expect that the EOF would be noted, and thus the import would understand there are no more rows.

Some people will insist that as an EOR delimiter, the CRLF must exist on the last record, just as in every previous record. Others insist there is no legitimate reason to include an EOR delimiter prior to an EOF marker nor as the last two bytes; in fact claim that it is an error. I know this was discussed back in the day, and I recall only that some chose to rewrite the file dropping the last two bytes, or otherwise with the same outcome, using facilities to truncate the last two bytes [if they were x'0D0A']. Seems it would be better if the recipient can just understand what is meant by <data><EOR><EOF>; where <EOF> is not to imply an actual delimiter\marker, as it could be implied by zero bytes remaining.

CPYTOSTMF [and CPYTOIMPF, at least in its pre-V5R3 design which, in its implementation, used CPYTOSTMF] when copying from a database file will terminate the line after the last non-blank character in a record according to the ENDLINFMT() value specified [on CPYTOIMPF, specified with RCDDLM() parameter]. EDTF seems to mutter if the delimiter is missing, and will also add the EOR delimiter for the last record when the file is changed, but that interface does not present any /extra/ /line/ of text.

Regards, Chuck