DDS for printer files

Data type for printer files (position 35)

Use this position to specify the data type associated with the field. The valid entries for this field for a printer file are:

Entry
Meaning

S
Zoned decimal

A
Character

F
Floating point

L
Date

T
Time

Z
Timestamp
Note:
The O (open) and G (graphic) support DDS printer files that use DBCS. The G (graphic) data type also supports DDS printer files that use UTF-16 and UCS-2.

Figure 1 shows how to code the data type.

If you do not specify a data type, and do not duplicate one from a referenced field, the OS/400 program assigns a default value as follows:

Notes:

  1. Specify 0 in position 37 to indicate an integer numeric field.

  2. Specify F in position 35 for a single precision floating-point field. Use the FLTPCN keyword to specify double precision or to change the precision of an already specified floating-point field.

  3. A floating-point value consists of five parts: (a) the significand sign, (b) the significand, (c) the exponent character (d) the exponent sign, and (e) the exponent.

    The significand sign is not printed for a positive value. The number of digits in the significand is determined by the length specified (positions 30 through 34). The location of the decimal point or the comma is determined by the decimal positions specified (positions 36 and 37). The exponent character and the exponent sign are always printed. The exponent is always 3 digits.

    The printed length for a floating-point field is 7 positions greater than the length specified in positions 30 through 34. The 7 extra positions are for (a) the significand sign, (b) the decimal point or comma, (c) the exponent character, (d) the exponent sign, and (e) the 3 exponent digits.

  4. Date, Time, and Timestamp restrictions:

    The field length (*DDS positions 30 and 34) for these data types must be blank. The field length is determined by the following rules:

    Fields that specify these data types are treated as alphanumeric data when printed. It is up to the application program to provide the data in the correct format and length according to the data type and keywords specified for these fields.

    Blank is the only supported value for decimal positions (DDS positions 36 and 37).

    Zero suppression is not supported for these data types. EDTCDE and EDTWRD keywords are not valid and the &cpf. program does not perform zero suppression by default as it does for signed-numeric fields.

    The following field level keywords are not allowed with these data types.

    BARCODE FLTFIXDEC
    BLKFOLD FLTPCN
    DATE IGCCDEFNT
    DFT IGCCHRRRT
    EDTCDE MSGCON
    EDTWRD PAGNBR

    TIME


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