OUTREC coding with Varible block records

[Idiot]

Hi Gems !

I have a Variable block file.It is a tape file with LRECL=23472(with 4 bytes RDW) and Blocksize=23476.

I have to edit this file to replace column positions 333-336 with numberic value 9999 and then copy it into an output file.

I am trying the following OUTREC statement with SYNCSORT(SORT) utility.

SORT FIELDS=COPY
OUTREC FIELDS=(1,332,333:c'9999',337)

I am not sure whether this is the correct way to code OUTREC statment but it is not working.

The output file is coded with following attributes
DCB=(RECFM=VB,LRECL=23472,BLKSIZE=23476)
which are same as the input file


I am getting the following error

WER108I SORTIN : RECFM=VB ; LRECL= 23472; BLKSIZE= 23476
WER237I OUTREC RECORD LENGTH = 23468
WER110I SORTOUT : RECFM=VB ; LRECL= 23472; BLKSIZE= 23476
WER244A OUTREC - SHORT RECORD


Please suggest me how to code OUTREC to accomplish my objective.

Thanks,
Idiot

 

[RonaldB]

Idiot (what's in a name?),

the message indicates that an input record was shorter then the fixed portion you state, that is: shorter then 332, including RDW. Check your input file whether this is the case. If not, call back; as far as i can tell, it should work.

Good luck,
Ronald.

 

[slade]

Hi I,

Try:

OUTREC FIELDS=(5,336,337:c'9999',341)

The sort will deblock the recs but includes the rdw as part of the data when it moves them to the out rec; therefore all osets must include the len of the RDW.

If your OUTREC includes the RDW len then you might want to try:

OUTREC FIELDS=(5,332,333:c'9999',337)

Regards, Jack.

 

[RonaldB]

Jack,

you've got me puzzled here; if you start including data from pos 5 onwards, you exclude the original RDW. Sounds like a plan, 'cause the new records are going to be longer, so a new RDW has to be determined (i hope Syncsort does this ...).
With this in mind, i can't figure out "... but includes the rdw ..." in relation to the statement "... =(5,336, ..." (shortened out of lazyness); i read this as:
starting at 5 (so after the RDW), including the next 336 pos's (so with the RDW !).

Idiot,

do you mean by "... column positions 333-336 ..." in your original post actual data columns, or did you account for the RDW as well ?
In the first case, Jack's second proposed statement,

"OUTREC FIELDS=(5,332,333:c'9999',337)",

should work.
Then again, i usually need about a dozen attempts before getting stuff like this to work. Analyzing error messages carefully and experimenting should leave you with something working in the end.

Regards,
Ronald.

 

[slade]

Hi Ron,

Yeah, I see what you mean; that was sloppy. What I meant was that the sort will either recalc the lrel or "copy" it from the I/P. BTW, I'm not sure if that's done, (I don't have a manual handy) but it's worth a shot.

Regards, Jack.

 

[RonaldB]

Jack,

... and that is exactly how i usually solve problems with Syncsort: shooting at it until i hit something ...

Idiot,

my comment on the short record and Jack's solution should get you going. Keep us informed if you will; there can never be too much to be learned about Syncsort ...

Regards,
Ronald.