Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 2481 Location: @my desk
Syncsort manual wrote:
Binary zeros will be used instead of the FILL character for the first four bytes of a variable-length record requiring FILL processing
Looks like it is enough to check the first 4 bytes of the Variable length records(RDW) of each file to know if there is a matching record or not.
I just ran a test for the OPs requirement and it works well!
Now the question is, why FILL=C'$' did not fill the F2 rec with '$' ? Is there any other parameter missing in the card ?
I ran a test and noticed that, as the OP suggests the FILL option does not actually 'FILL' the missing F2 fields in case no match exists in file2, where as it does 'FILL' the F1 fields if file1 has no matching key record.
Joined: 09 Mar 2011 Posts: 7309 Location: Inside the Matrix
Arun, I think testing the record-length (or the whole RDW) is the best way with SyncSort. I suggested it here, but difficult to know from that particular TS whether it worked :-)
I don't know why the FILL should not apply to both records. If it is documented differently and the problem is repeatable, then it should be passed on to SyncSort.
Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 2481 Location: @my desk
Quote:
testing the record-length (or the whole RDW) is the best way with SyncSort
Yes Bill, I have checked the RDW in my test above and looks like that is the only way out for Syncsort (at least for now until the '?' function gets included).
As for the 'FILL' the manual says two things.
- It will FILL the unused bytes of a variable length record.
- It will FILL the missing fields in a REFORMAT when there is no matching key.
But it does not mention anything about a variable length file JOIN when both the scenarios can occur simultaneously, but our tests show that it does not FILL the missing file2 fields for VB JOINs. May be Alissa could have a look at this or someone can send a note to Syncsort to bring this to their attention.
The difference is that the full length is specified on the REFORMAT for both files, rather than just one. Maybe with the "start-position-only" it does not "qualify" for the FILL?
Joined: 17 Oct 2006 Posts: 2481 Location: @my desk
Thanks for the link, Bill. That may very well be the reason. Anyways I would like to check it out first thing when I get to work, so to be sure. Have I gone off-topic? .
.
