Define an ICF file using DDS

Here are some rules and examples for filling in positions 1 through 44 of the data description specifications (DDS) form.

DDS keyword entries for ICF files (positions 45 through 80) gives rules and examples for specifying DDS keywords.

For more information about keywords for ICF files, see the ICF Programming book.

Specify the entries in the following order to define an ICF file:

1. File-level entries (optional)
2. Record-level entries
3. Field-level entries (optional)

Repeat the record-level entries and field-level entries for each record format in the file.

Specify at least one record format in the file.

The following figure shows an ICF file coding example.

|...+....1....+....2....+....3....+....4....+....5....+....6....+....7....+....8
00010A* ICF FILE CODING EXAMPLE
00020A*
00030A          R RCD1                      RCVENDGRP(14)
00040A            FLDA           5
00050A            FLDB           5  0
00060A            FLDC          10  2
00070A
00080A          R RCD2
00090A  72 73
00110AON74                                  FAIL
00120A            FLDD          12
     A            FLDC      R               REFFLD(A LIB1/FILEA)
     A

• Sequence number for ICF files (positions 1 through 5)
  Use these positions to specify a sequence number for each line on the form.
• Form type for ICF files (position 6)
  Specify an A in this position to identify this as a DDS form.
• Comment for ICF files (position 7)
  Specify an asterisk (*) in this position to identify this line as a comment.
• Condition for ICF files (positions 7 through 16)
  Positions 7 through 16 are a multiple-field area in which you can specify option indicators.
• Type of name or specification for ICF files (position 17)
  Enter a value in this position to identify the type of name specified in positions 19 through 28.
• Reserved for ICF files (position 18)
  This position does not apply to any file type. Leave this position blank unless you use it for comment text.
• Name for ICF files (positions 19 through 28)
  Use these positions to specify record format names and field names.
• Reference for ICF files (position 29)
  Specify R in this position to use the reference function of the program to copy the attributes of a previously defined named field (called the referenced field) to the field you are defining.
• Length for ICF files (positions 30 through 34)
  Specify the field length for each field (unless you copy the field's attributes from a referenced field).
• Data type for ICF files (position 35)
  Use this position to specify the data type of the field within the file.
• Decimal positions for ICF files (positions 36 and 37)
  Use these positions to specify the decimal placement within a packed decimal, a zoned decimal, a floating point, or a binary field.
• Usage for ICF files (position 38)
  The valid entries for this position are listed here.
• Location for ICF files (positions 39 through 44)
  These positions do not apply to ICF files. Leave these positions blank unless you use them for comment text.