Subfile dictionary error

[Cousins, Michael]

There is a limit to the number of items than can be reported to a subfile.
The limit seems to descend with newer versions of PowerHouse.

If you are using a PORTABLE subfile you have two files created - the subfile
and a subfileQ. The subfile is the portable dictionary, and it is ASCII. You
can read it with an editor and it will look like PDL. See if the structure
of the file matches that which you defined in the program. You may see that
the last ELEMENT definition is truncated. That will likely explain the
error.

The workarounds are to concatenate several items into one item  - or  -
create several subfiles that can be linked by record number.

For example - if you have two CHAR fields, 10 and 20 bytes - then you can
create one 30 byte item by concatenating these two fields. The programs that
read the subfile will have to be altered to split the data item accordingly.

If you use QTP you can output to several SUBFILEs somewhat concurrently and
use a counter as a record number to re-link the data files in subsequent
programming. If you use Quiz you will have to re-read your input files
several times. Using Qtp will preserve the integrity of the input record
set.

For example

REQUEST CREATE
ACCESS <-lots of files->
TEMP CNTR INT SIZE 4 INITIAL 0
ITEM CNTR = CNTR + 1
SUBFILE SUBONE PORTABLE INCLUDE CNTR, <partial list of items>
SUBFILE SUBTWO PORTABLE INCLUDE <remaining items>

REQUEST COMPOSE
ACCESS *SUBONE LINK TO RECORD (CNTR - 1) OF *SUBTWO
...

The REQUEST COMPOSE shown above will put the diffenent subfile back
together.

/mc


-----Original Message-----

I'm attempting to run a QTP program which outputs to a subfile.  I'm
getting an error '*E* File error on dictionary portion of subfile.  *E* END
OF FILE (FSERR0).  The subfile has a very large number of items being
reported to it, and if I remove some of the items, of course I don't get an
error and it runs, but I need all the items.  Does anyone know what's
preventing this subfile from being built with all of my items in it, and if
you know what's causing it, is there a way around it.  I hope this is
something simple and I'm just missing it!

We're using PH619 on an HP-947.  I know, I know, it's a pretty old version
of Powerhouse, but it's all we have to work with.

Thanks in advance for any help.

Pam Church


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