Embedded carriage return in PC data

[Merol Newman]

Hello Jeff, Blue

Your Access file is variable length, and I think you'll find your .sf needs to
be fixed length, sequential. Do dir/full on your subfile created in (1) - no
need to delete it - and you'll see what you need. Create an fdl from it using

analyze/rms_file/fdl <subfile>.sf

and convert the Access file:-

conv/fdl=<subfile>.fdl <accessfile.whatever> <subfile>.sf

creating <subfile>.sf;2 - hence no need to delete version 1 just yet.

I don't think you need to worry about the carriage return - the convert command
should remove or add those as specified in the fdl. (I think)

If you have problems, try a portable subfile, substituting .ps for .sf.

I always use portable subfiles for this sort of thing, and add filler if
necessary to make the record length an even number of bytes, but I'm usually
editing an emailed Access file for use on Unix, and need to cut-and-paste it
into vi, so the requirements are probably a bit fussier than to use on Vax.

Why do I go through this intermediate stage on Vax? Because I have the choice! I
join Blue as a fully paid-up member of the VMS fan club. The Access files I get
(from customers) have variable column widths, which can easily be reformatted in
TPU using learn sequences and repeat, for fairly large data files. The thought
of trying to do that in vi is horrifying!

regards
Merol

merol.newman@ramesys.com
Ramesys, Eldon Way, Crick, Northamptonshire, UK. NN6 7SL
phone 01788 822133/823831, fax 01788 823601


> -----Original Message-----
> From: powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu
> [mailto:powerh-l-admin@cube.swau.edu]On Behalf Of Edis, Bob
> Sent: 18 March 2002 21:05
> To: PowerHouse List (E-mail)
> Subject: RE: Embedded carriage return in PC data
>
>
> G'day Jeff
>
> I have used the following technique successfully:
>
> 1. Create a permanent subfile with the same layout as the ASCII file using
> Quiz.
> 2. delete the *.sf file just created
> 3. edit the *.sfd file just created and add a 1 byte field at the end of the
> record.  This hold the CR.
> 4. copy your ASCII file to same name as the subfile and make the extension
> .sf
> 5. Read the file with Quiz as a test.
>
> Regards,
> Blue
>
>
> -----Original Message-----
> From: Jeff Hoffman [mailto:wonicon@optushome.com.au]
> Sent: Monday, March 18, 2002 2:51 PM
> To: powerh-l@lists.swau.edu
> Subject: Embedded carriage return in PC data
>
>
> G'Day
>
> Sorry for this non PH question butttttt....
>
> I am using VMS variable length file to read data from an Access data base.
>
> CR's are embedded in the data, they are being treated as end of record.
>
> Has anybody got some advice (politely please) of a way to detect and remove
> these before I access this file with PH?
>
> Thanks

> + Jeff Hoffman                          + e-mail: wonicon@optushome.com.au