Flatfiles and WRKDF (was: Re: OCL)

While we're discussing "flatfiles", one of the features of WRKDBF that is
frequently overlooked is the ability to work with "flatfiles" as if they
were externally defined.  For those of us who have to work with these
flatfile beasts, it is a lifesaver and a timesaver.

Basically, you key in the RPG "F&I" specs that define your flatfile's
record length, key length and starting position, record ID details, and
field from and to's, and WRKDBF uses these to present you with a "virtual"
externally described flatfile.

For example, let's assume I have an 80-byte FLATFILE that has two different
record types ("A"ctive & "C"ancelled status), a Product ID key field in
position 1 to 5, and several data fields.  Assume also that I have stored
the following "F&I's" in an RPG source member named "FIFLATFILE":

     FFLATFILEIF  F      80  5AI     1 DISK
     I        NS  01   6 CA
     I                                        1   5 PRODID
     I                                        6   6 STATUS
     I                                        7  132PRICE
     I                                       14  53 DESCRP
     I        NS  02   6 CC
     I                                        1   5 PRODID
     I                                        6   6 STATUS
     I                                        7  120CANCDT
     I                                       13  13 RSNCOD
     I                                       14  23 USERID

Now at a command line, these "F&I's" can be accessed by:

     WRKDBF  FILENAME(FLATFILE)  FLATFILE(*YES)

There are optional command parameters where you can name where the source
member resides, but assuming the proper naming structure, this is all that
you need on the command.  Now you'll see the file with the keys and fields
broken down, records separated, and most of the functionality of WRKDBF
(including SQL!) is available to you.

Bill

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