How can I suppress a FOC1072 DUPLICATES IN JOIN 'FROM' FIELD error message? It is not actually an error that prevents the data from retrieving, but for large data sets it causes the report to fail because of the number of error messages.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: <Kathryn Henning>,

Hi,
It sounds like you are joining from a "flat" file e.g. a text file.
If so, perhaps you should use a different format for the "from" file? e.g. a FOCUS DB?

I am using a flat file because I am joining multiple fields.

Duplicates in JOIN "FROM" field mandates a LEFT_OUTER or MATCH:

JOIN LEFT_OUTER COL_NAME IN FILE_NAME TO ALL COL_NAME IN FILE_NAME AS J1

or

Use MATCH

I am using a left outer join.

JOIN
LEFT_OUTER SCANSHOLD2.SCANSHOL.PERIOD_WEEK AND SCANSHOLD2.SCANSHOL.USERNAME AND SCANSHOLD2.SCANSHOL.CONSOLID IN SCANSHOLD2
TO MULTIPLE TEMPHOURS2.TEMPHOUR.PERIOD_WEEK AND TEMPHOURS2.TEMPHOUR.USERNAME AND TEMPHOURS2.TEMPHOUR.CONSOLID
IN TEMPHOURS2 TAG J8 AS J8
END

Is the joined-to file also a flat file? In a flat-to-flat, the composite key must be strictly increasing in value.

Yes, it is flat to flat.

Here are three approaches to try:

• use MATCH FILE
  
• create Focus files with the catenated join keys as a single field, indexed on the TO side
  
• use Focus files, with a condition-based join.
  

I am looking for a way to suppress the error message, not redo my code.

There's no way to suppress the error without redoing your code.

The only WebFOCUS error/warning message you can suppress is FOC144, using the FOC144 command: SET FOC144 = {NEW|OLD}.

quote:

...use Focus files, with a condition-based join...

Even though I've used the conditional join for relational data sources, it is still ingrained in me that for FOCUS you need an equijoin (plus restriction to only one cross-refrenced field).

Thanks for the bump on the head, that the conditional join is supported for FOCUS.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: David Briars,

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As always ...