DBCS sort tables

DBCS sort tables contain the sort information and collating sequences of all the double-byte characters used on the server. The server uses these tables to sort double-byte characters using the sort utility.

DBCS sort tables are objects that you can save, restore and delete. Using the character generator utility you can also add, delete and change entries in these tables corresponding to the image entries in the DBCS font tables. For Japanese use only, you can also copy the DBCS master sort table to and from a data file.

The following DBCS sort tables are distributed with the DBCS national language versions of OS/400^® licensed program:

QCGMSTR: A Japanese DBCS master sort table used to store the sort information for the Japanese double-byte character set.
QCGACTV: A Japanese DBCS active sort table used to store the sort collating sequences for the Japanese double-byte character set.
QCGMSTRC: A Traditional Chinese DBCS master sort table used to store the sort information for the Traditional Chinese double-byte character set.
QCGACTVC: A Traditional Chinese DBCS active sort table used to store the sort collating sequences for the Traditional Chinese double-byte character set.
QCGACTVK: A Korean DBCS active sort table used to map Hanja characters to Hangeul characters with equivalent pronunciation.
QCGMSTRS: A Simplified Chinese DBCS master sort table used to store the sort information for the Simplified Chinese double-byte character set.
QCGACTVS: A Simplified Chinese DBCS active sort table used to store the sort collating sequences for the Simplified Chinese double-byte character set.

You can sort Japanese, Korean, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese double-byte characters. Each of these languages have two DBCS sort tables, a DBCS master sort table and a DBCS active sort table, except for Korean which has only a DBCS active sort table. The DBCS master sort table contains sort information for all defined DBCS characters. The DBCS active sort table for Japanese, Simplified Chinese, and Traditional Chinese is created from the master sort table information and contains the collating sequences for the double-byte characters of that given language. These collating sequences have a purpose similar to the EBCDIC and ASCII collating sequences for the single-byte alphanumeric character set. For Korean characters, the Hangeul characters are assigned both their collating sequence as well as their DBCS codes according to their pronunciation. Hence, a separate collating sequence is not required, and each of the Hanja characters is mapped to a Hangeul character of the same pronunciation using the DBCS active sort table QCGACTVK.

All DBCS sort tables have an object type of *IGCSRT.

Commands for DBCS sort tables
You can use the commands listed in this topic to manage and use DBCS sort tables.
Use DBCS sort tables on the server
You can save the tables to tape or diskette, delete them from the server, and restore them to the server.
Find out if a DBCS sort table exists
You can use the Check Object (CHKOBJ) command to find out if a DBCS sort table exists in your server.
Save a DBCS sort table onto tape or diskette
You can use the Save Object (SAVOBJ) command to save a DBCS sort table onto tape or diskette. Specify *IGCSRT for the object type.
Restore a DBCS sort table from tape or diskette
You can use the RSTOBJ command to restore a DBCS sort table from a tape or a diskette onto the server.
Copy a Japanese DBCS master sort table to a data file
Through the character generator utility, use the CPYIGCSRT command to copy the Japanese DBCS master sort table (QCGMSTR) to a data file.
Copy a Japanese DBCS master sort table from a data file
You can use the CPYIGCSRT command to copy the Japanese DBCS master sort table (QCGMSTR) from a data file.
Delete a DBCS sort table
You can use the DLTIGCSRT command to delete a DBCS sort table from the server.

Parent topic: Double-byte character set support