Positional Entries for DDS Files

Positional entries are adapted so that you can define data fields that contain DBCS data. The entries are adapted as described in the following sections.

DBCS data is either bracketed or graphic. Bracketed-DBCS data begins with a shift-out character and ends with a shift-in character. DBCS-graphic data contains only DBCS data and does not contain shift-out and shift-in characters. The term DBCS refers to both bracketed and graphic DBCS data.

DDS Length (Positions 30 through 34)

Consider the effects of the following when determining the length of a DBCS field.

For bracketed-DBCS fields:

For graphic-DBCS fields:

DDS Data Type (Position 35)

Use the following DBCS data types to identify DBCS fields.

Bracketed DBCS:

J (Only)
Fields can contain only DBCS data.

E (Either)
Fields can contain DBCS or alphanumeric data.

O (Open)
Fields can contain both DBCS and alphanumeric data.

Graphic DBCS:

G (Graphic)
Fields can contain only DBCS data with no shift-control characters.

Data type O is allowed in all types of files. Data types J and E are allowed only in database and display files. Data type G is allowed in database, display, and printer files.