Re: Reading a file into a data set

On 26-Jun-09, at 7:07 AM, rpg400-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

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.

Yes this would certainly work Vern. With a small change though you can avoid the pointer (there are many pointer-phobic folks among us). The change is to use an externally described DS rather than a LIKEREC that way you can just add the array definition(s) as overlay(s) at the end of the DS. If the array fields aren't the only thing in the record you need to "play" a bit with the overlay start position and that often results in hard-coding it which the technique I described avoids.


Jon Paris

www.Partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com