Re: Reading a file into a data set

[Jon Paris <jon.paris@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

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