Importing encoded format objects
When you import a form, report, or prompted query:
- The file can consist of variable or fixed-length records. See Specifications for externalized QMF objects and Appendix B. Export/import formats.
- The record identifier (H, V, T, R, E, *, L, or C) must be in
the first position of every record.
- The first two bytes are reserved for control information (the
control area).
- Every data field (including field numbers, lengths, and values)
must be preceded and followed by one delimiter. Exception: The last
data field in a record need not be followed by a delimiter because
the end-of-record acts like a delimiter. (The examples in this book
use the blank character as the delimiter.)
- If QMF encounters a duplicate data value or table during IMPORT,
it replaces the previous value or table. However, duplicates are
not allowed where they would violate the rules for a particular
object. For example, the number of columns provided for a form can't
be changed after the first COLUMNS table has been processed.
- Table numbers, field numbers, and numeric lengths, can contain
leading zeroes or leading blanks. However, trailing blanks (except
for the blank delimiter) are not allowed; fields must be right-justified.
- When * is used instead of a length or count, it must be left-justified
and padded with trailing blanks.
- If the value supplied for a data entry field is shorter than
the field, it is padded with trailing blanks. If it is longer, it
is truncated.
- If the record is shorter than its fixed-format length, those
fields left unspecified are assumed to be blank.
