RE: Getting an entire record as a character string

Well, despite the other answers you've received, I don't think it's quite that 
simple. 

First, what do you mean "Character string"?  If you just mean "all the data in 
a record format", then a data structure is all you need.  However, if you're 
expecting human readable data, then numeric values will be a problem. 

Take a numeric value with decimal digits (say 7s2 -123.45) and tell me how you 
want this value to be represented in a character string.  I'll bet you that the 
negative sign will cause you grief, since RPG won't see "-00123.45" as a valid 
numeric value.  You can convert this string into a value in your program, but 
it can't be done automatically by the compiler.  The character image of a 
numeric value is longer than the base data, since you must render the sign and 
the decimal point in addition to the digits of the value.....

Eric DeLong
Sally Beauty Company
MIS-Project Manager (BSG)
940-297-2863 or ext. 1863



-----Original Message-----
From: rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx
[mailto:rpg400-l-bounces@xxxxxxxxxxxx]On Behalf Of James H H Lampert
Sent: Monday, August 07, 2006 11:18 AM
To: rpg400-l@xxxxxxxxxxxx
Subject: Getting an entire record as a character string


I'm putting together a "preload" program to generate 
records in one file by riding "The Cycle" through another 
file. The source file is designated as the primary file 
for cycle control, and it's externally-described.

The target file has a field that takes a complete image of 
the source record (as well as a number of fields that get 
populated from individual fields in the source record). Is 
there an easy way I can access the source record both as 
its individual fields and as one big character string?

--
JHHL