Format Information

(1) Field List

'Optional' in the chart below refers to whether or not the field is optional for registration on the HULFT Management Console. Optional parameters for batch registration may differ from optional fields on the HULFT Management Console.

For details on optional parameters for batch registration, refer to Registration and modification of management information.

(2) Specification of each field

The following explains the fields specified in the Format Information. Strings within brackets () are the tags of parameter names to be defined in a definition card for the Management Information Batch Registration program (XRSYSINF).

Format ID (FMTID)

This field specifies the ID that identifies the registered format.

This format ID is linked with the following fields:

• The Format/Multi Format ID (FMTID) in the Send Management Information

• The Default Format ID (DEFAULT-FMTID) and the Format ID (MFORMAT DEF to DEFNED) in the Multi Format Information

Field Name (FORMAT DEF to DEFEND)

This field specifies the name that identifies the relevant field.

Start Position (FORMAT DEF to DEFEND)

This field specifies the start position of the relevant field.

Specify the starting position (byte count from the top of the record) of the field.

Defaulting this field sets the sum value of the byte count and the Start Position of the preceding field (automatically calculated).

Byte Count (FORMAT DEF to DEFEND)

This field specifies the byte count of the relevant field.

Decimal Places (FORMAT DEF to DEFEND)

This field specifies the decimal places of the relevant field.

Specify the Decimal Places when the relevant field contains numeric data with one or more decimal places.

Field Type (FORMAT DEF to DEFEND)

This field specifies the type of data of the relevant field.

X:

Character

B:

Binary

P:

Signed Internal Decimal

N:

Double-byte Graphic Characters

M:

Variable-length Characters (double byte codes must be enclosed within shift codes)

9:

Unsigned External Decimal

F:

Floating Point

I:

Image (No Conversion)

S:

Signed External Decimal

The following table shows the details on each field type:

Table 2.10 Details of Field Type

Field Type		Size (Bytes)	Explanation of Field
X	Character	From 1 to 9999	Format for character data that contains only EBCDIC codes. Data in this format cannot contain double byte codes.
B	Binary	2, 4, 8	Data format of signed integers.
P	Signed Internal Decimal	From 1 to 10	Data format of signed packed decimal numbers. This field type can handle up to 18 digits.
N	Double-byte Graphic Characters	From 2 to 9998	Format for character data that contains only double byte codes without shift codes. Data in this format cannot contain EBCDIC codes. Only an even-byte string can be entered for this field type. For mainframe or midrange computers, use this field type for double byte codes that do not include shift codes.
M	Variable-length Characters	From 1 to 9999	Format for character data that contains both EBCDIC codes and double byte codes. For mainframe or midrange computers, double byte codes must be enclosed within shift codes.
9	Unsigned External Decimal	From 1 to 18	Data format of unsigned zoned decimal numbers.
F	Floating Point	4, 8	Signed floating point data format. HULFT for Mainframe supports the IBM floating-point format for this field type. HULFT for other machine types supports the IEEE floating-point format.
I	Image	From 1 to 9999	Data format that indicates no conversion.
S	Signed External Decimal	From 1 to 18	Data format of signed zoned decimal numbers.

For details on the code conversion rules for each field type, refer to Code Conversion Manual.

Comment (COMMENT)

This field specifies the comment on the formats.

(3) Points to be noted when specifying