DDS Positional Entry Considerations

The following section describes how to specify DDS position 30 through 37 and position 45 through 80 for describing database files. Positions not mentioned have no special considerations for UCS-2 Level 1.

DDS Length (Positions 30 through 34)

Specify the length of the field in these positions. The length of a field containing UCS-2 Level 1 data can range from 1 through 16 383 characters.

When determining the program length of a field containing UCS-2 Level 1 data, consider the following:

On a logical file, if the length is not specified and a UCS-2 to EBCDIC conversion will be taking place, the length of the corresponding physical file field will be taken except in the following case.

DDS Data Type (Position 35)

The only valid data type for UCS-2 Level 1 data is the G (Graphic) data type.

G (Graphic)
Type G in combination with the CCSID keyword to specify this field contains UCS-2 Level 1 data.

Normally, by specifying G, the field contains graphic-DBCS data. In combination with the CCSID keyword, the field now contains UCS-2 Level 1 data. When conversion is necessary between a corresponding fields in a physical and logical file, data will be mapped between the characters of the UCS-2 CCSID and the CCSID of the corresponding field.

DDS Decimal Positions (Positions 36 and 37)

Leave these positions blank when using UCS-2 Level 1 data.

DDS Keyword Considerations (Positions 45 through 80)

The CCSID keyword is used to enable a G-type field to contain UCS-2 Level 1 data. The CCSID parameter must have a CCSID using the UCS-2 Level 1 encoding scheme. This keyword is enabled for both physical and logical files.

For logical files the following characteristics must be true before the CCSID keyword is allowed on a logical file field.

The DFT keyword may contain SBCS, bracketed-DBCS or bracketed-DBCS-graphic character strings when specified on a UCS-2 capable field.

The COMP keyword may only be used to compare data in another UCS-2 capable field. Literals may not be specified on this keyword.