Character Data Representation Architecture (CDRA) APIs

Note: You should have access to the Character Data Representation Architecture Reference book, SC09-1390-01, before using this set of APIs. This book is not available online, but can be ordered from the IBM Publications Center.

The Character Data Representation Architecture (CDRA) APIs are:

• Convert a Graphic Character String (CDRCVRT, QTQCVRT) converts a graphic character data string of the identified string type (ST1) represented in a specified from CCSID (CCSID1) to a graphic character data string of the required string type (ST2) that is represented in another specified to CCSID (CCSID2).
• Get CCSID for Normalization (CDRGCCN, QTQGCCN) assists in determining the CCSID for normalization given two CCSIDs. The returned CCSID may equal one or both the input CCSIDs. When certain operations, such as concatenation or comparison are performed on graphic character strings, the two strings are both in the same CCSID, or they are normalized first to a single CCSID before concatenation.
• Get Control Function Definition (CDRGCTL, QTQGCTL) gets a requested control function definition associated with a given CCSID.
• Get Encoding Scheme, Character Set, and Code Page Elements (CDRGESP, QTQGESP) returns the value of the encoding scheme associated with CCSID1 in ES, and the values of CS and CP elements in CSCPL.
• Get Related Default CCSID (CDRGRDC, QTQGRDC) allows the caller to get a nearest equivalent or best-fit related CCSID.
• Get Short Form (CCSID) from Specified ES and (CS, CP) Pair (CDRSCSP, QTQSCSP) gets the CCSID associated with the specified (CS, CP) pairs and ES. It aids in coexistence and migration for products that have to deal with the short form (CCSID) of identification on one side and the intermediate form (CGCSGID) on the other.
• Get Short Form with Maximal CS for Specified ES and CP (CDRSMXC, QTQSMXC) gets the CCSID with the maximal character set (CS) for a given code page (CP) value.
• Get Short Form with Maximal CS for Specified ES and CP (QTQSMXC2) gets the CCSID with the maximal character set (CS) for a given code page (CP) value. The QTQSMXC2 API acts as an extension of the functions of the CDRSMXC API in that you can specify more code pages.
• Resolve Client Server CCSID (QTQRCSC) returns the CCSID that will enable the proper transfer of data between the server and the client.

The CDRA APIs listed above are in library QSYS2. You can use equivalent QTQ APIs, stored in library QSYS, to achieve the same function. The API name and library comparison is as follows: