Output File Specifications

The Data File Converter can create a new output file or overwrite an existing output file. For new output files, you must provide all specifications manually. For existing output files, the Data File Converter picks up the organization and record format from the file automatically; however, you can change these before converting.

File Formats

We support the following file formats:

File Format	Purpose
C-ISAM	Emulates files from old systems
ESDS	Emulates VSAM ES files
IDXFORMAT(4)	When converting an input file that has many duplicate keys
IDXFORMAT(8)	For very large files
Extended-ESDS	Emulates VSAM ES for very large files
Level-II	Emulates files from old systems
Micro Focus	In all other cases

The default format is Micro Focus, which is normally used for files downloaded from the host and recreated on the PC. If the chosen file is an emulation of the mainframe VSAM entry-sequenced data set, choose ESDS or Extended-ESDS to provide the emulation of VSAM ESDS on the PC.

File Organizations

We support the following file organizations:

• Indexed sequential
• Line sequential
• Relative
• Sequential
• VRECGEN2

Maximum and Minimum Record Lengths

You can increase or decrease the minimum and maximum record length for the output file. The Data File Converter makes adjustments depending on the length of the original record and the specified new length, as explained in the following scenarios:

Increase the minimum record length

Records shorter than the new minimum length are filled in using the number of padding bytes needed to complete the record length.

Increase the maximum record length

Records are filled in using the number of padding bytes needed to complete the record length.

Decrease the maximum record length

Records longer than the new maximum length are truncated.