what does FFFFFFFF indicates in sequential file when hex on?

vy · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 9 Location: schaumburg

Hi,

I got the following problem when I did HEX ON on my sequential file.

For spaces hex vales is 404040 but I see FFFFF when i try to press space cursor goes to end of this FFFFF. How to find this programitically.

I tried numeric low-values high-values. It dint work. Please suggest me some options.

VY

genesis786 · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 11:35 am

Hi, is this file FTPed from some ascii based system? it might be possible that FFFF that you are seeing is some unrecognizable character. plz refer to the ebcdic table here

www.natural-innovations.com/computing/asciiebcdic.html

Robert Sample · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:20 pm

What is the definition of the field at that location in the file? A binary (COBOL COMP) field with negative one in it would have a hex representation of FFFF and that would be valid.

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:48 pm

I'm feeling dumb and not even able to understand what problem is being asked here...

enrico-sorichetti · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:51 pm

Robert Sample · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 4:55 pm

Anuj, I suspect the practical issue is that when you're in ISPF editor and attempt to change non-displayed characters (such as x'FF'), ISPF doesn't make the change and puts the cursor on the first displayable character after the one where the cursor was.

Which in turn raises the issue of why someone is attempting to edit a production file? And why they don't understand internal representation of data fields? And ....

dbzTHEdinosauer · Posted: Wed Dec 30, 2009 5:21 pm

it is true, you can not change the non-display char when you attempt to change the character.

but, if you change the hex representation (which is there when you HEX ON) you can effectively change the non-display char.

now, why the TS did not try this????
It never ceases to amaze me how many people try something only one time,
(after spending ages working up the nerve to touch the keyboard)
and never try to experiment or learn something on their own.

it's always the it doesn't work. you can almost hear the whining.

vy · New User Joined: 16 Jun 2009 Posts: 9 Location: schaumburg

Field is defined as numeric and I am getting problem while trying to generate a report by doing computations.

Robert Sample · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:42 am

Terry Heinze · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 9:45 am

"Field is defined as numeric" doesn't tell us much. There are several ways a field can be defined as numeric as far as COBOL is concerned: display, internal decimal, external decimal, binary, etc. In what language are you trying to do your computations in?
P.S. Robert keys faster than I do.

Anuj Dhawan · Posted: Thu Dec 31, 2009 3:57 pm