Re: Chinese characters in an interface file

I have a client that is receiving a .csv file for import to the IBM i (I
sure wish outlook would quit capitalizing that letter for me!!!!) that
contains Chinese characters.literally. When the file lands in the IFS,
based on the hex bytes it looks like it is ASCII DBCS. I say that because
the number 1 is hex 31 but I know Chinese characters require DBCS.


This file is then imported from the IFS to a DB2 file in the same character
set (binary transfer). From there, it is "converted" to a normal DB2 file
with CCSID 37 data (and the Chinese characters which apparentlyu are no
longer DBCS characters so they are just weird single byte characters).


We need to be able to blank the entire "cell" if it contains any Chinese
characters. To add complexity, not every cell in the column has Chinese
characters and we want to keep the cells with the non-Chinese values. This
step can be done anywhere that it is convenient, whether it be on the IFS or
either version of the DB2 files.


My client does not approve of Java code on the IBM i but I've been given the
authority to use Java to do this "if I have to". I have no idea why they
threw that statement out there unless someone has already researched and
found a Java solution but they can't code in Java. However, since I have
done very little with Java called from RPGLE and my java skill set is from
the 1990's, I would rather have an RPGLE solution if that is possible.


So, what solutions have I not stumbled over yet.


Also, some of this terminology might be wrong such as the "ASCII DBCS".
Please feel free to correct any terminology so I know for later when I am
trying to explain this.