Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved


Chapter 4 Defining Import Tables for Files with Multiple Record Formats : How to Define Import Tables for Files with Multiple Record Formats

How to Define Import Tables for Files with Multiple Record Formats
What is a Multiple Record Format?
An import table can reference or access a file of records that have different formats. For example, a personnel file contains records that record employee benefits, payroll information, and training. To access this type of file, you must define multiple, related tables for each record format.
Usually the first table defines the base portion of the record, which identifies subsequent record formats by a flag or record type indicator. To process the record, you GET the first base table and then determine the subsequent record format by examining the flag byte. The corresponding related table is then accessed for the particular record format following the base portion of the record.
What is a Repeating Group?
A repeating group is a collection of data that occurs multiple times in a record. For example, a time collection system could have 52 repeating groups to record hours worked for each week of the year.
Definition Requirements
To define an import table for the file shown in First Sample File – Personnel, define each table as described in Chapter 3, Managing IMP Data Definitions, with the following additional considerations:
Specify Y for the IDgen field.
If the file is partitioned, specify the fully qualified filename in the File field, for example, File: USER40.EMPL(ALLMGRS). You cannot use a parameter to specify members or files for these types of input files.
Define a parameter for the import table that describes the second record format. The import table describing the first record format does not have to have a parameter. The parameter must be defined with the following:f
Do not provide data for this field; the system generates these values. As a result, the IDgen field provides each record in the import table with a unique identifier.

Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved
Copyright © TIBCO Software Inc. All Rights Reserved