Re: how to increase field size without increasing the field size

[Paul Therrien <paultherrien@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

I might not understand, but instead of recompiling all programs that 
have references to the PO Number, you would add program logic to all of 
the programs that use the PO Number field (AND recompile all of those 
programs).  The development work required up front to add the logic to 
the programs is pretty extensive. And ever program that uses the PO(15) 
field needs to now have every reference to PO(15) replaced with 
reference to PO(30).

In addition, every future query, and sql, and adhoc download that 
includes the PO number will need to have this logic.

The amount of work and potential for program bugs and logic errors seems 
to be monumental in this scenario.

I think your programmer needs to understand that the database needs to 
reflect the realities of the business.  The programs are not there for 
our convenience, the programs are there to run the business.

If the programs involved use program described data structures and flat 
file layouts (as I know older EDI systems tend to do), then I can see 
why your programmer is hesitant.



On 4/26/2014 8:44 AM, Steve Richter wrote:
> We have an order header file that contains a PONUM field.  Char(15).
> But as the business expands to take on new customers sending in orders
> with a PO number the 15 char limit might not be enough. The EDI 850
> specs I look at say po number can be 1 - 22 characters.
>
> The programmer who handles the RPG code with traditional F spec files
> does not want to increase the field size and recompile all of the
> programs.
>
> I am thinking of a scheme where I put a special key in the char(15)
> ponum field when the po number is longer than 15 characters. That
> value being the key to another file that contains the actual value.
>
> Are there any system level, DB2 features that can be used to solve this problem?
>
> Ideal would be something where code written using RPG SQL would
> function without any code changes.
>
> d vPonum      s       30a
>
>     exec sql
>     select    a.ponum, a.shipname
>     into       :vPonum, :vShipName
>     from     dwhpf30c a
>     where   a.ordnum = :inOrdnum ;
>
> In the above code snippet, dwhpf30c is the order header. DWHPF30C is a
> CRTPF created file and PONUM is a CHAR(15) field.  When the value of
> the PONUM field is actually more than 15 characters I need some logic
> somewhere that will return the full value from where it is stored into
> the char(30) program variable vPonum.
>
> thanks,