Re: Is Write Record Format Better Than EXCEPT?

["Peter Vidal" <Peter_Vidal@xxxxxxxx>]

I think it is a matter of how you want the event to be handled.  A WRITE will
create a record "straight to the heart"  BAM!  Is there.  An EXCEPT will need an
output specification entry for the field you want.... but on any of the cases,
you will write your field value and the other 99 fields will be created with
their default initial values (*zeros or *blanks).

However, I need to mention that if you have files with shared field names, in
some cases, and one of your output fields is under this condition, is better to
specify the field that you want to use on your EXCEPT statement instead of using
the WRITE.  If you use WRITE, maybe you will end up writing information that
comes from the wrong file.  All depends of the situation.  If you are covered by
PREFIX or moving fields to work fields, great.

That is why the UPDATE operating code  (now available in V5R2) is even more
cleaner and specific.  I have not had a chance to use it but I know by reference
that is very good too.

Peter Vidal
Pall Aeropower Corp.
SR Programmer Analyst
WWW.Pall.com

"A good player makes himself look good; a great player makes the team look
good."
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