II am trying to do a left outer join between two files with the understanding that the data in the right-most table can have missing data. My problem is this: the resultant joined output file still has what looks like blanks in the place where data is missing (Field EFC) and I want to have text show there that says the data is in fact missing by the use of "99999".

What do I have to do to accomplish this? Also, this is using Mainframe FOCUS, Release 7.1.

My appreciation to all who reply for your time and expertise.

Here is my code snippet where I am attempting this:

 SET NODATA  = '99999'
SET ALL = PASS
-*
JOIN CLEAR *
JOIN STU_ID IN R187X&INSTX   TO ALL STU_ID IN R187Y&INSTX AS FILE001
-*
DEFINE FILE R187X&INSTX
NEWEFC    /A05 = IF EFC EQ '     ' THEN '99999' ELSE EFC;
END
-*
TABLE FILE R187X&INSTX
-*
PRINT
-*
      TERM
      MAX.DUALSTD
      MAX.RT134    AS RT134
      MAX.DUALTERMS
      AA642        AS AA642
      RB110        AS 'RB110'
      RB205        AS 'RB205'
      MAX.SCORE1
      MAX.SCORE2
      MAX.SCORE3
      MAX.SCORE4
      MAX.SCORE5
      MAX.SCORE6
      MAX.SCORE7
      MAX.SCORE8
      MAX.TEST_DT
      TEST_CTR
      ALL.AA003       AS AA003
      INFORLSE
      EFC
      NEWEFC
-*
BY    STU_ID
-*
-*WHERE RB205        EQ 'ACCUP'
WHERE RB110        EQ '&HS1' OR '&HS2' OR '&HS3'
                   OR '&HS4' OR '&HS5' OR '&HS6'
                   OR '&HS7'
-*
ON    TABLE        HOLD     AS     R187&INSTX
-*
END
-RUN
-*
DEFINE FILE R187&INSTX
NEWEFC    /A05 = IF EFC EQ '     ' THEN '99999' ELSE EFC;
END
-*
 

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