String too long for writing into file

[RockRock]

I would like to prepare a script for writing a string (longer than 256 characters) into a file.
However, the following error is prompted.
Script:
write d_file f$extract(0,256,content)
Error:
"command element is too long - shorten"

Then, I amend the script to use "write/symbol" instead. However, another error is prompted.

Error:
"%DCL-W-PARMDEL, invalid parameter delimiter - check use of special characters
\(0\"


Please help. Thanks.

[Hein van den Heuvel]

How about:

$ line = f$extract(0,256,content)
$ write/symb d_file line


Enjoy,
Hein.

[Jan van den Ende]

Hein gave the answer.

Why?

Because WRITE/SYMBOL does exactly that:
it writes a symbol.

.. and you asked it to write the outcome of a lexical function.

BTW: VMS version _IS_ of interest here: since some UPDATE (don't remember which) for V7.3-2 the default tokenlength handled, as well as the length handled by /SYMBOL, have been increased 8-fold (thanks again, Guy Peleg!)

hth

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[RockRock]

Thank you for your reply. Another error is prompted.

Script:
$ open/read/error=FILE_ERR s_file 'source_file
$ open/read/write/share/error=FILE_ERR d_file 'destn_file
$ !
$ READ_LOOP:
$ read/end_of_file=EOF/error=FILE_ERR s_file content
$ line = f$extract(0,256,content)
$ write/symbol d_file line
...
$ close d_file
$ close s_file
...


Error:
%RMS-F-NEF, not positioned to EOF on $PUT (sequential organization only)

Please help. Thanks.

[Jan van den Ende]

RockRock,

what _IS_ the "organisation" of the 'destn_file'?
Looks like you are trying to insert a record into an existing indexed file without positioning it first.
... But I am probably already assuming to much now.
Please post the output of
DIR/FULL 'destn_file'
(rename the output to .TXT, and attach it, if it has to come out formatted for human reading).

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[RockRock]

Thanks. I have amended the open section.
However, concatenation can't be used.


Script:
$ open/read/error=FILE_ERR s_file 'source_file
$ open/write/error=FILE_ERR d_file 'destn_file
$ !
$ read/end_of_file=EOF/error=FILE_ERR s_file content
$ i_content = f$extract(0,535,content)
$ b_content = f$extract(541,98,content)
$ f_content = i_content+"01DEC06"+b_content
$ write/symbol d_file f_content



Error:
%DCL-W-NOCCAT, parameter concatenation not allowed - check use of plus (+)
\F_CONTENT+\


Please help. Thanks.

[John Abbott_2]

Lots of choices here... how's about

.
.
$ f_content = f$extract(0,535,content)+"01DEC06"+f$extract(541,98,content)
$ write/symbol d_file f_content
.
.

J.

[RockRock]

It works. Thank you very much.

[Jan van den Ende]

RockRock,

for the "Forums way to express thanks" please read
http://forums1.itrc.hp.com/service/forums/helptips.do?#33

Proost.

Have one on me.

jpe

[RockRock]

The answer has solved my problem completely! Now I'm a happy camper!