Re: Different Physical File Attributes.

[rob@xxxxxxxxx]

Ryan,

There was an old school of thought back on the S/38 and on the AS/400 that 
one should keep no keys in the physical file itself.  Instead you should 
create a logical file (or sql index) that would have the key.  Had 
something to do with the file getting damaged it may be easier to fix the 
data if the file itself had no key.  Unfortunately this has continued to 
carry over to the i5.  And, software vendors are the last company in the 
world to change underlying concepts like this.  Look at how few of them 
have moved from RPG400 to RPGLE.
Then again, with all the damage I've had lately...

They key does not order how your data is physically stored in the file. 
Just how it is retrieved.  And then only if you tell your retrieval access 
to use that key.  Now, if you want to reorder your data by key to enhance 
blocking speed you can always use the RGZPFM (Reorganize Physical File 
Member) and specify the KEYFILE parameter.

Rob Berendt