Re: User space, outfile or workfile

[Hans Boldt <boldt@xxxxxxxxxx>]

Peter Colpaert wrote:
> Hi group,
>
> I'm trying to make a general purpose utility which will copy any PF into an
> XLS file in the IFS (using some java class behind the screens).  When it's
> finished, I will probably make it available to the public on my new website
> (yet to be developed).
>
> In order to determine the field types (alpha or numeric) for the XLS, I see
> three possibilities:
>
> * Using the QUSLFLD API to a user space, and loop through that for every
> record
> * Doing a DSPFFD into an outfile in QTEMP and loop through that for every
> record
> * Using the QUSLFLD API, read it once, write the fieldname and data type to
> a workfile in QTEMP, and loop through that for every record
>
> Considering that the files can be rather large (I think I will make the
> program automatically create a new sheet when the row counter reaches 65000
> or whatever the limit in Excel is), performance may be an issue.
>
> Can anybody tell me which would be the fastest of the 3?
>
> I know I could code the 3 versions and run performance tests, but I'd hate
> to hear someone say later on: 'Oh, but I could have told you in advance
> that xxx would be much faster.'
>
> Thanks in advance.


Maybe I'm missing something fundamental, but doesn't the CPYTOIMPF 
write out in CSV format, and doesn't Excel read CSV files?

Cheers! Hans