CSV ramblings

[Latimer, Richard]

What we really need is an operating system that describes it's files
externally and does away with the requirement for each application to
provide it's own data dictionary - either a global one as we PH'ers
build using PDL or the mini ones that we get free each time we genrate a
subfile.

In our application every file on the entire machine is available to PH -
those known to PH via PDL are the "tables" that comprise the application
- anything else can be accessed as a subfile using * in the access
statement and PH will understand the makeup of the fields but may not
know what to use for column headings etc. Conversions from delimited
files are a breeze as you simply point QTP at the file and parse the
result straight into your tables or a new "PH described" subfile. 

Unfortunately the newest version of PH available on this platform is
6.07F and the operating system is widely regarded as a dinosaur ... I'm
talking AS/400,  iSeries,  IBM System I, insert this weeks name here


Regards
Richard Latimer



**********************************************************************
This electronic message together with any attachments is confidential. If
you receive it in error: (i) you must not use, disclose, copy or retain
it; (ii) please contact the sender immediately by reply email and then
delete the emails. Views expressed in this email may not be those of the
Airways Corporation of New Zealand Limited
**********************************************************************