topic Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS in Operating System - OpenVMS

SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Ian M_1 — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 07:58:15 GMT

I have a problem and i would if anyone can help me. When I type in 'exchange copy dtf_save:b001057.dat;/record_format=fixed=680 ian:' i recieve the following error: fixed record length of 680 is too large. Is there anyway else of fix lengthing this file. I need it to be 680 bytes. Thanks, Ian

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Steven Schweda — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:23:17 GMT

The complete actual error message might be helpful.

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Ian Miller. — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:23:29 GMT

could you change the file format before copying by using covert or change the file attributes using SET FILE /ATTR=LRL=680
?

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Ian M_1 — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:32:08 GMT

The full error message is

%EXCHANGE-I-NOTVALLEN, fixed record length of 680 is too large
%EXCHANGE-I-NOTCOPIED, file B001057.DAT;230 not copied to IAN:

Cheers,
Ian

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Hein van den Heuvel — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 08:40:29 GMT

Why are you using exchange? It may be the right tool, but then you should be able to explain to us why.

If you have a good reason to use EXCHANGE then you may need to use the /TRANSFER_MODE to make it do the rigth thing.

What does the input look like? no recognizable records? Is it 'dense' data? Any allignment between records? sizes?

Can you make the input look good by just declaring the file SET FILE/ATTR=(RFM=FIX, LRL=680, MRS=680, RAT=CR), then use copy?

Can you just use CONVERT/FDL/TRUN/PAD

hth,
Hein.

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Ian M_1 — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 09:46:31 GMT

I'm sorry to be a pain, but i'm fairly new to this. How would i use the command for the file it want to fix format?

Thanks,
Ian

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Willem Grooters — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:07:09 GMT

On the prompt, just type the command Hein supplied and hit enter.
In "our" jargon:

$ SET FILE/ATTR=(RFM=FIX, LRL=680, MRS=680, RAT=CR) dtf_save:b001057.dat

$ = standard DCL prompt, just the location where to enter your commands.

I can advise to use the HELP command, and read through the user guide and DCL manual, to start with :-)

Willem

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Hein van den Heuvel — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:33:22 GMT

What he said!

SET FILE/ATTR did not officialy exist (there always was fileset), when excahnge was crafted.

But before doing so please spend a little time trying to understand the input file format better.
Start with a DIR/FULL (report here?)
You probably also want to report the individual attributes you are likely to change with SET FILE.
$rat = F$FILE(myfile,"RAT")
$mrs = F$FILE(myfile,"MRS")
:
LRL, RFM,

You probably want to DUMP/BLOCK=COUNT=3 'myfile.
This will give you a visual check as to the contents of the input stream.

If you want to share that dump with us, ten do not just include it, but attach it and other pertinent information as a text file to a future reply.

Hein.

Re: SETTING FIX LENGTHS

Jan van den Ende — Thu, 10 Nov 2005 10:39:20 GMT

Ian,

review the first question by Hein:

(And believe me, Hein is THE world expert in file structures details!)

Do you really NEED EXCHANGE?

If so, Why?

If we know that, we might also be able to use other means to get the desired result!

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe