RECORD CONTAINS 0 TO 2000 CHARACTERS

suraaj · New User Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

I came across a code like below:

Bill Woodger · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 10:02 pm

Minimum record-length four for the first (just the RDW) and five for the second (RDW plus one byte of data).

Since records with no data are pointless, confusing, and probably (when they exist) created in error the 1 TO 2000 is better.

Better yet is an actual minimum. 203 TO 2000 or something. Then when a short record turns up, the run-time (Language Environment) will give you some help by abending.

suraaj · New User Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

Thanks Bill for the reply...

But does it mean that 0 to 2000 and 1 to 2000 mean the same??? For clarity let us assume the data is all alphanumeric.

Please clarify

Regards Suraaj

Bill Woodger · Posted: Fri Nov 29, 2013 10:11 pm

No, not the same.

0 TO 2000 will allow a record with zero bytes of data to be read/written. 1 TO 2000 will not.

However, if your genuine minimum record-length is 118, then 0 TO 2000 and 1 TO 2000 have the same problem - they would allow short records to be written quietly, without causing a problem. Until later. If you are unlucky, much later. Or much, much later.

So

suraaj · New User Joined: 16 Apr 2009 Posts: 69 Location: Canada

Thanks Bill...got your point.

Regards Suraj