Most records have a variable format. However, header records have a fixed format, even though the file or data set containing the records can be of variable format.
These records are used to identify the contents of the exported form, report, or prompted query. A header record is the first record of the exported file. It describes the characteristics of the object.
A header record contains the information described in Table 11 (an asterisk indicates that the field is required for import):
| Byte Position | Information and Type |
|---|---|
| 01* | Header record indicator (H) |
| 02 | Blank |
| 03-05* | Product identifier (QMF) |
| 06 | Blank |
| 07-08 | QMF release level in which the form, report, or prompted query was exported: 11 for QMF Version 7 |
| 09 | Blank |
| 10* | Type of object: F for form R for report T for relational prompted query E for ER prompted query |
| 11 | Blank |
| 12-13* | QMF object level 01 for report 04 for form 01 for prompted query (relational or ER) |
| 14 | Blank |
| 15* | Format of object E for format used to export form, report and prompted query (relational or ER) objects |
| 16 | Blank |
| 17 | Status of the object: E - Contains errors (for form only) W - Contains warning V - Valid |
| 18 | Blank |
| 19 | Whole or partial object indicator W for whole object |
| 20 | Blank |
| 21 | National language in use when object was exported: E for English |
| 22 | Blank |
| 23* | Action against object in the temporary storage area when importing (R for replace object) |
| 24 | Blank |
| 25-26 | Length of control area in the beginning of each following record: 01 for form 02 for report 01 for prompted query (relational or ER) |
| 27 | Blank |
| 28-29 | Length of integer length fields specified in V and T records (03) |
| 30 | Blank |
| 31-38 | Date stamp: yy/mm/dd |
| 39 | Blank |
| 40-44 | Time stamp: hh:mm |
| 45 | Blank |
| 46-50 | SSSSS, for OS/2 objects |
| 51 | Blank |
| 52-56 | DDDDD, for OS/2 objects |
The object level in the H record denotes a change in an object's format. All object formats begin with object level 01; if a later release of QMF changes an object format, the object level is increased by 1. The object level increases only when the change in the format could potentially create an error in your application. Check for level changes in the object types of reports, forms, and prompted queries, which have the encoded format in Figure 17.
For example, the externalized format for form objects handles break information differently in Version 3.2 than in previous releases. Because of this change, the object level for form objects increased from 03 to 04 for Version 3.2. In general, the following changes cause the object level to be incremented:
However, new values for a field or new field numbers do not create errors in your application. Check the object level value to ensure that objects you import do not create problems for your application.
Example of an H record for a prompted query:
H QMF 11 T 01 E V W E R 01 03 98/11/20 17:12
| Value from example | Description |
|---|---|
| H QMF 11 T | A Version 7 QMF relational Prompted Query header record |
| 01 | Structure of the prompted query is at object level 1 |
| E | Format type is that for forms, reports, and prompted queries |
| V | The exported prompted query does not contain any errors or warnings |
| W | The file contains the entire prompted query |
| E | The national language in use when object was exported is English |
| R | When importing, object in temporary storage area is replaced |
| 01 | Length of control area is 1 byte |
| 03 | Length of integer length fields is 3 bytes |
| 98/11/20 | Date stamp |
| 17:12 | Time stamp |
See Figure 19 for a complete example of the Prompted Query encoded format.
Example of an H record for a form:
H QMF 11 F 04 E V W E R 01 03 98/12/16 22:08
| Value from example | Description |
|---|---|
| H QMF 11 F | A Version 7.2 QMF form header record |
| 04 | Structure of the form is at object level 4 |
| E | Format type is that for forms, reports, and prompted queries |
| V | The exported form does not contain any errors or warnings |
| W | The file contains the entire form |
| E | The national language in use when object was exported is English |
| R | When importing, object in temporary storage is replaced |
| 01 | Length of control area is 1 byte |
| 03 | Length of integer length fields is 3 bytes |
| 98/12/16 | Date stamp |
| 22:08 | Time stamp |
See Figure 20 for a complete example of the form encoded format.
Example of an H record for a report:
H QMF 11 R 01 E V W E R 02 03 98/10/14 16:20
| Value from example | Description |
|---|---|
| H QMF 11 R | A Version 7.2 QMF report header record |
| 01 | Structure of the report is at object level 1 |
| E | Format type is that for forms, reports, and prompted queries |
| V | The exported report does not contain any errors or warnings |
| W | The file contains the entire report |
| E | The national language in use when object was exported is English |
| R | Ignored |
| 02 | Length of control area is 2 bytes |
| 03 | Length of integer length fields is 3 bytes |
| 98/10/14 | Date stamp |
| 16:20 | Time stamp |
See Figure 22 for a complete example of the report encoded format.
[ Previous Page | Next Page | Contents | Index ]