Is there any difference in the file size of a hashed file, based on its columns datatype/length structure,
i.e,
HF1:
col1 varchar(100)/char(100),
col2 decimal(100)/integer(100)/numeric(100)
Hashed files only have one internal datatype, namely a string. Length specifications are informational only, thus all 3 hashed files you mentioned will be identical.
CHAR fields will be padded with blanks in DS and written/read with blanks.
Thanks ArndW very much
that means i do not have to care about defining data types and length for my hashed files, anything will be acceptable am i right?
You should always use realistic numbers, particularly for non-strings; but in Server you can put "Hello There" into a VarChar(3) field and it would still be stored correctly.
Even though DS Server does not restrict you from misusing job column metadata it is always best to act as if it would and use column definitions that approximate the data; that way if you were to write to a database you can avoid error messages upon insert and update.