[Fwd: Re: downloading a subfile to pc(numeric fields appear as funny characters)]

[Patrick Beckett]

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Sorry Alan,

I should have asked how are you "reading" the file on the PC? Through a
program as data or through an editor?

If you are "reading" the file as data, you probably need to find a
datatype that is compatible with your PC.
If someone doesn't come up with an easy answer, you may want to try
contacting Cognos. Someone told me that they used to be able to transfer
data files between Powerhouse and PC's as portable subfiles but I think
that they may have also said that they used Powerhouse PC in the
process.

If all else fails you may have to resort to building an ASCII version of
the number (see previous message).
Hopefully not.

---------------------------------------
Patrick Beckett
Diamond Information Systems Inc.
Victoria, B.C., Canada.
http://www.diamond-systems.com
Pager 1-888-724-3827 
         then 975-8190 
---------------------------------------

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Message-ID: <34B661F4.37D3@diamond-systems.com>
Date: Fri, 09 Jan 1998 09:44:20 -0800
From: Patrick Beckett <patrick.beckett@diamond-systems.com>
Reply-To: patrick.beckett@diamond-systems.com
Organization: Diamond Information Systems Inc.
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To: mendesa@CADVISION.COM
Subject: Re: downloading a subfile to pc(numeric fields appear as funny
	              characters)
References: <01BD1CE3.64A91B40@mendes1>
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ALAN MENDES wrote:
> 
> Hi there...
> I am trying to download some info from a quiz report to my pc
> Each record is about 300 characters in size
> I have tried the Report device disc but it won't let me write more than 264
> characters per line.
> 
> i have also tried the
> 
> set subfile nodictionary
> 
> but when i download the file all the non (a-z) characters appear as jibberish...
> 
> any help

How are things in Calgary?


You might have to build the numbers as ASCII strings(1) or find a
corresponding data type that will store them with a decimal place and
put the sign in front of the number. Some data types store negative
numbers differently by overpunching the last digit or storing them in
some sort of different way. 



(1) Conceptually wise,you might have to do something like this:

define whole_number char*?? = floor(original_number...

define decimal   char*??  = round(99*(round((original_number -
whole_number),...),.. ; where 99 is an appropriate power of 10 if
necessary. watch how and where powerhouse and you round on this one.

define sign char*1= "-" if original_number < zero else " "

define number_inc_character_format char*?? = &
 sign + whole_number + "." + decimal if original_number <=
largest_storageable_value_size and original_number >=
smallest_storable_value_size else "**ERROR**" ; make sure that you have
an extra 2 characters in the size for the sign and the decimal place


When you create the code, test it thoroughly with some examples.
Hope this helps.  BTW, how is your staffing/contracting level for
Powerhouse programmers? I may come out to Calgary again for a while if
there is not enough Powerhouse work down here on the island.

Take care,



---------------------------------------
Patrick Beckett
Diamond Information Systems Inc.
Victoria, B.C., Canada.
http://www.diamond-systems.com
Pager 1-888-724-3827 
         then 975-8190 
---------------------------------------

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