Re: Reading a file into a data set

If I remember correctly, you cannot assume the fields are contiguous - you have to force that by putting the names of the fields into a data structure. Jon's article is really good on this - I've not used the group subfield idea yet.

Another method might be - Jon, correct me here, please - to use the LIKEREC() keyword, I think - create the array external to the DS, based on a pointer - set the pointer to the address of the first field in the file - then you don't have to explicitly write out all the fields and add grouping fields and overlays and all. Might make setting arrays for fields buried in a record.

HTH
Vern

Dennis Lovelady wrote:

Alan Shore
Sent: Thursday, June 25, 2009 4:18 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i
Subject: Reading a file into a data set

I have an externally defined file with the record consisting
of the following fields

Numbers01A 5 0
Numbers02A 5 0
Numbers03A 5 0
...
Numbers22C 5 0
Numbers23C 5 0
Numbers24C 5 0

Which in essence is 3 arrays of a 24 array
There is a way of reading this file into a 2 dimensional data set
(or am I getting COBOL flashbacks?)

Assuming the fields are defined in that exact order and that they're
contiguous, you should be able to do something like:

D Set_T DS Qualified D Number 5 0 Dim(24) D pFirstNum S * Inz(%Addr(NUMBERS01A)) D BigArray DS Qualified Based(pFirstNum) D Set Dim(3) LikeDS(Set_T) D myRec E DS ExtName(myFile) Qualified **- or D myRec DS LikeRec(myRecord) /Free If BigArray.Set(2).Number(20) <> Numbers20B ; // I'll eat my hat EndIF ;