Re: MIDRANGE-L Digest, Vol 7, Issue 980

[Jon Paris <Jon.Paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

On 29-Apr-08, at 8:18 PM, midrange-l-request@xxxxxxxxxxxx wrote:

> The more I look at this, the more confused I get.  From what I see  
> here,
> I'm not sure what the field is defined in the file as.  And it looks
> like that what happens is that the externally described data structure
> is what converts the field from a packed representation to a binary  
> one.

Although normally a question that arises when zoned fields become  
packed "mysteriously", this is normal behavior for RPG.

All numerics on external files are converted to packed by default.

However, if you place them in a DS by using an externally described  
DS, then RPG honors the actual data type on the file.  Question is  
what is the "actual type".  Because RPG had to handle externally  
described Binary fields before it had true integer support, the  
"actual type" treated binary fields as type B.  The H-spec option  
overrides the default behavior and defines the "actual type" as as a  
true integer.  Which of course is what they were to begin with!

Clear as mud right!

Jon Paris

www.Partner400.com
www.SystemiDeveloper.com