Using Text Fields in Output Files

Reference:

Text fields can be propagated to HOLD and SAVE files that have the following formats: ALPHA, WP, and FOCUS or XFOCUS. However, although a Master File is generated for format ALPHA, you cannot issue a TABLE request against a HOLD file of format ALPHA that contains text fields.

Reference: Rules for Text Fields in Output Files

  • You can include as many text fields in the file as needed. However, you must specify text fields after non-text fields in the display list (PRINT..., SUM..., and so forth).
  • You can specify only one text field in the display list, and no non-text fields, in a request that includes an ACROSS phrase.

The following rules apply to missing data for text fields in HOLD and SAVE files:

  • A blank line is valid data. An end-of-text mark indicates the end of the field.
  • If there is no text for a field, a single period (.) followed by blanks appears in the HOLD or SAVE file.
  • If MISSING=ON during data extraction, a period (.) is written out to the HOLD or SAVE file.
  • If MISSING=OFF during data extraction, a blank is written out to the HOLD or SAVE file.

See Handling Records With Missing Field Values.

In environments that support FIXFORM, due to limitations in the use of text fields with FIXFORM, the following restriction applies:

  • When you use the command FIXFORM FROM HOLD, the HOLD file may not contain more than one text field, and the text field must be the last field in the Master File.

When HOLD files are read using FIXFORM, the interpretation of missing text depends on whether the field's designation is MISSING=ON in the Master File, conditional ©) in the FIXFORM format description, or some combination of the two.

Example: Applying Text Field Rules in HOLD Files

The following request extracts data to a HOLD file named CRSEHOLD:

TABLE FILE COURSE
PRINT COURSECODE DESCRIPTN1
ON TABLE HOLD AS CRSEHOLD
END

The following request prints the data from the HOLD file:

TABLE FILE CRSEHOLD
PRINT *
END

The partial output is:

COURSECODE
DESCRIPTN1
AMA130
FOR PROJECT LEADERS AND SYS ANALYSTS.
AMA680
FOR INDUSTRIAL MARKETERS.
AMA800
FOR MANAGERS AND HUMAN RESOURCE STAFF.
BIT420
FOR SENIOR MANAGERS. ANALYZE AND IMPROVE
BIT640
FOR ADMINISTRATOR OF LABOR CONTRACTS.
BIT650
FOR PROGRAMMERS, PROJECT LEADERS AND
EDP090
FOR PRODUCTION MANAGERS. TO DELEGATE AND
EDP130
FOR PROGRAMMERS, PROJECT LEADERS AND
EDP390
FOR MANAGERS. HELP APPLY MANAGERIAL
EDP690
FOR EXEC MANAGERS AND MKTG RESEARCH
EDP750
FOR MARKETING MANAGERS. ENABLE TO
MC230
FOR PROGRAMMERS, PROJECT LEADERS AND
MC90
FOR VICE PRES OF SALES AND MARKETING.
NAMA40
FOR MARKETING VICE PRES AND MANAGERS.
NAMA730
FOR MANAGERS OF SALESPEOPLE. TO ENHANCE
NAMA930
FOR FINANCIAL MANAGERS. EXPLORE CONCEPTS
PDR330
FOR EXECUTIVE SECRETARIES. TO KNOW THE
PDR740
FOR EXPERIENCED MARKETING MANAGERS. HELP
PDR870
FOR DESIGNERS AND TRAINING COORDINATORS.
PU168
FOR MARKETING, PRODUCT, ADVERTISING
PU440
FOR GENERAL MANAGERS. TO EXPLORE
SFC280
  .
  .
  .
FOR MANAGERS AND SECRETARIES. HELP