Is there an easy way to append records to a 3-field hold file without having to do a modify routine or -READ / -WRITE? -READ and -WRITE are somewhat unpredictable in this environment. If there's no other way than to use modify or -READ and -WRITE, then please present your suggestions.

Thank you,

John

This message has been edited. Last edited by: kerry,

If it's a HOLD FORMAT FOCUS, you'd have to use Modify (or Maintain).

If a flat HOLD file, get the filedef attributes for the ddname, reissue the filedef with APPEND, and SAVE (if HOLD was format alpha) or SAVB (if binary) to the ddname. Test and inspect to make certain the old and new rows line up.

See How to Assign a Logical Name With Code Under Windows for FILEDEF syntax.

But note that you could run into trouble reporting, if the extended file is no longer sorted overall in conformity with the SEGTYPE in the Hold MFD.

quote:

-READ and -WRITE are somewhat unpredictable in this environment

That's an extremely strange statement. Why?

You can have a common master file, then hold data to different files. Then issue use command

USE
FILEA AS COMMONMASTER
FILEB AS COMMONMASTER
END

Another easy way is to use (APPEND. Here is the sample code.

FILEDEF HOLD DISK HOLD.FTM (APPEND
TABLE FILE CAR
PRINT CAR
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY EQ 'ENGLAND'
ON TABLE HOLD
END
TABLE FILE CAR
PRINT CAR
BY COUNTRY
WHERE COUNTRY EQ 'JAPAN'
ON TABLE HOLD
END
TABLE FILE HOLD
PRINT *
END

the FILEDEF with APPEND the Lusheng suggests if the answer you're looking for, but there are several other options as well.

JG -- Yes, that is a strange statement. It's probably due to the way all the WebFOCUS are configured, and which version each one is. And I have no control over that.

Darin, Please share your other techniques.

You could also use the MORE Statement. What it requires is the two files have the same column names.

TABLE FILE FILE1
PRINT FIELD2
BY FIELD1
ON TABLE HOLD
MORE
FILE FILE2
END

John B

One great technic that helped me a lot is following some courses.
Your remarks and question give me the idea you just started with WebFocus.

Like almost everyone else has suggested, use MORE:

SET HOLDLIST=PRINTONLY
SET HOLDFORMAT=ALPHA
SET ASNAMES=ON
-RUN

TABLE FILE BLAHBLAH34
PRINT
COL1 COL2 COL3
ON TABLE HOLD AS H001
END
-RUN

TABLE FILE BLINGBLING121
PRINT
COL1 COL2 COL3
ON TABLE HOLD AS H002
END
-RUN

TABLE FILE BOINGBOING96
PRINT
APPLE AS COL1
BANANA AS COL2
ORANGE AS COL3
ON TABLE HOLD AS H003
END
-RUN

TABLE FIL1 H001
PRINT COL1 COL2 COL3
ON TABLE HOLD AS H101
MORE
FILE H002
MORE
FILE H003
END
-RUN

quote:

-READ and -WRITE

You shouldn't have any problems with -READ and -WRITE if the program is coded correctly. If you're mixing -READ and -WRITE in the same Dialogue Manager loop, or if there is non-Dialogue Manager code within the loop, use the NOCLOSE option.

quote:

NOCLOSE - Keeps the external file open until the -READ operation is complete. Files kept open with NOCLOSE can be closed using the command -CLOSE filename. The option NOCLOSE is available only in OS/390.

It's strange the WF v5.3.2 documentation states "The option NOCLOSE is available only in OS/390" because that is not true.

and thank heavens that statement isn't true