Transferring Data from BASIC Random Files

When you transfer data from BASIC random files to system files, the data changes as follows:
  • Hexadecimal fields transfer to the system file as unchanged hexadecimal data. The field lengths as stored on the workstation should be the same as the field lengths as stored on the system.
  • ASCII character, date, time, and time-stamp data changes to EBCDIC character data byte by byte.
  • For null-capable iSeries, eServer™ i5, or System i5® fields, null values (except date, time, and time stamp) cannot be reliably detected and are not uploaded. For variable-length iSeries, eServer i5, or System i5 fields, trailing blanks are removed and the field is converted to the variable-length format.
  • Numeric fields from BASIC random files (BASIC integers, single-precision floating-point numbers, and double-precision floating-point numbers) change to system binary data, zoned decimal data in EBCDIC format, or packed decimal data in EBCDIC format.
Note: Because the change of floating-point numbers into decimal fractions is not always exact, each number automatically changes into the most precise number possible with respect to the system field length. If you want more precision, specify a larger system field size.
Parent topic: BASIC Random Files