Re: Query packed data?

On Feb 26, 2018, at 12:22 PM, Justin Taylor <JUSTIN@xxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

Unfortunately we (NOT ME) were creating new program-described files for production until 2008 or so. That means there a lot out there. I generally replace them when I have to touch them for some reason, but some files are "hands-off".



-----Original Message-----
From: Rob Berendt [mailto:rob@xxxxxxxxx]
Sent: Monday, February 26, 2018 11:11 AM
To: Midrange Systems Technical Discussion <midrange-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: RE: Query packed data?

I tend to go with the suggested SQL function. Then you could imbed that into a view.

Then again, I would repeatedly question why it must remain a program described file.

Order of preference:
- Try to figure out why someone says it must remain a program described file and determine if the reason is still valid.
- Create the suggested function to convert the packed to a string, and imbed that into a view. This will allow better editing and create reusable code than converting multiple packed fields with view logic itself.
- Use IDDU.

The one I would leave out of the realm of possibility is trying to use DDS in a logical file to create a view. The conversion and lack of error trapping is lacking. For example, what if the packed data is invalid?
After all it is a program described file and it's not out of the realm of possibility. With a function, if it fails the edit you can always return a null or a replacement value.


Rob Berendt
--
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