CLEAR Question for Input Files

["Michael Naughton" <mnaughton@xxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Hi Everyone,

I've run into a problem that I wonder how other people solve. I've got a
data file that I use for input only in my program, and I use the values to
populate a screen (where they may get changed and then saved off someplace
else). Typically, I CHAIN to the file and then fill the screen fields.

My problem is that if the CHAIN fails (which it will, from time to time),
I get decimal data errors on the screen fields. I thought I could solve
this by using CLEAR on the data file format, but CLEAR doesn't work since
the file is input only.

I know I could just zero out all the fields individually, but that seems a
little crude :-). I tried using an externally-defined data structure (I
thought maybe I could clear that), but I got compile errors telling me I
hadn't renamed the fields. I finally solved the problem by adding an A to
the F-spec and putting in a dummy subroutine that writes the record format
(which the program never calls). That worked like a charm, since now the
CLEAR works after the failed chain, but I wonder -- is there a better way
to do this?

Thanks very much!

Mike Naughton
Senior Programmer/Analyst
Judd Wire, Inc.
124 Turnpike Road
Turners Falls, MA  01376
413-863-4357 x444
mnaughton@juddwire.com