Re: Managing one physical file with several subfile record formats

[Vern Hamberg <vhamberg@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>]

Scott

I can only claim haste and non-use for missing the right terms - thanks 
for clarifying this.

And I think I mentioned to Peter Dow that I was thinking of the default 
for free-form file specs - I wouldn't even think about using program 
described these days - we have some old code that handles different 
record types from banks.

Cheers
Vern

On 6/21/2023 6:48 PM, Scott Klement wrote:
> Vern,
>
> Being pedantic for a moment...    the term is "program described" 
> (meaning described in the program) vs. "externally defined" (defined 
> outside the program.)  Not "internally described" -- though, of 
> course, I knew what you meant.
>
> With regards to free format -- it's completely possible for them to be 
> program-described.  You can't write I or O specs in free format, but 
> you can still use data structures to read/write data to/from 
> program-described files.
>
> Good luck
>
> On 6/21/23 6:40 AM, Vern Hamberg via RPG400-L wrote:
> > Hi Dave
> >
> > Should I assume that your physical file is internally described? 
> > Therefore, you are using fixed format? Free format file descriptions 
> > have to be externally described.
> >
> > Anyhow, with internal descriptions, we have I-specs with record 
> > identifiers - this is old school, I've not used this for decades, I 
> > think!   :)  And then there would be indicators, IIRC. Nowadays you 
> > can give names to some indicators, maybe, for this purpose.
> >
> > I did look at the SFILE keyword documentation - 
> > https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.3?topic=keywords-sfilerecformatrrnfield#fsfile 
> > - you can see whether there is any way to use variables.
> >
> > Regards
> > Vern