reading sequential file

[pandu80]

Hi,
i wrote a routine which reads the sequential file and gives the output in a array.In this routins i have used Ans<-1> so that it reads the each record in new line. I want to pass this routine output to Start loop activity which accepts a input as a Comma,Space or other delimited string.

My question is ,The output of the routine was in row by row format so can i use LF as new line character(as a delimiter). I have used this but it shows wrong no of iterations in the loop.


any clues pls

TIA

[chulett]

My question is ,The output of the routine was in row by row format so can i use LF as new line character(as a delimiter).

Nope. Your sequential file has that as a delimiter but an array doesn't. I'm not sure an array will work in this situation, with these 'Loop' stages.

You could try setting it to 'Other delimited string' and telling it @VM is the delimiter (or is it @FM? @AM? Heck if I recall right now) - as long as it will take a System Variable like that there.

[pandu80]

how do convert that array into a single string with some delimiter or new line as delimiter character?.

Ans = Convert(@VM,"0A",Ans)

Is above works?


TIA

[ray.wurlod]

No. "0A" will not be interpreted as a hex number; each @AM will be converted to "0" (the first character of the second argument.
What you need is

Code: Select all

Convert(@AM,Char(10),Ans)

or, if svLF is a stage variable initialized to Char(10)

Code: Select all

Convert(@AM,svLF,Ans)

which means you only evaluate Char(10) once rather than once per row

[pandu80]

Hi,
Ans = Convert(@AM,Char(10),Ans) wil return the whole array as a single string?. If it return a string, How do i specify a delimiter in Start Loop Activity?.(as 10 or 0A or char(10))

any help would be apreciated.

TIA

No. "0A" will not be interpreted as a hex number; each @AM will be converted to "0" (the first character of the second argument.
What you need is

Code: Select all

Convert(@AM,Char(10),Ans)

or, if svLF is a stage variable initialized to Char(10)

Code: Select all

Convert(@AM,svLF,Ans)

which means you only evaluate Char(10) once rather than once per row

[roy]

Hi,
You can reverse the conversion again!
Though I have used arrays as a return value from routines with no problem.
If it is of any interest they can be passed as reference and besides the warning at compile time it works.

As you want to use this in a loop activity I recommend finding a suiteable delimiter if you can from the values mentioned in the stage instead of converting your @AM to the Char(10).

So if your data can't contain a comma or vertical bar "|" use them as your delimiters and your loop stage should work fine.

IHTH,

[ray.wurlod]

If that's the intended purpose then don't convert to Char(10). Instead convert to some delimiter character that does not appear in your data, for example "|" (as suggested) or "~" or "\".

[pandu80]

Hi,
If i convert to some delimiter like "|". How do i specify this delimiter in StartLoop Activity?.
It accepts Coma,Space and Other. In the other can i directly specify "|" as delmiter or should i specify the ascii char value?.

TIA

If that's the intended purpose then don't convert to Char(10). Instead convert to some delimiter character that does not appear in your data, for example "|" (as suggested) or "~" or "".

[chulett]

It accepts Coma,Space and Other. In the other can i directly specify "|" as delmiter

Yes.