ASCII File Fields (daxch0503m000)

Use this session to list the available ASCII file fields in a logical ASCII file.

The ASCII file fields define the layout of the ASCII file and are identified by a unique number and name.

On the appropriate menu, select Create ASCII File... to create the ASCII file fields automatically, or create the ASCII file fields manually in the details session.

Where fields have no fixed field length, click Recalculate Start Positions on the appropriate menu to change the start position of the ASCII file field.

Note: If you have started this session by zooming, you can only find and select a record.

Field Information

Exchange Scheme

The exchange-scheme code.

The exchange scheme is created in the Exchange Schemes (daxch0501m000) session.

ASCII File

The ASCII file name.

The ASCII file is created in the ASCII Files (daxch0102m000) session.

Field Number

The field number for the ASCII file field.

If a field separator is used, ASCII file fields are positioned according to this number.

The field separator is defined in the Exchange Schemes (daxch0101s000) session.

Note: The order of fields specified by the field number is important, not the actual field number. Make sure to use numbers like 10, 20, 30, and so on. This makes it easier to insert field numbers at a later stage.
ASCII Field

The name of the ASCII file field.

This field is automatically filled if a data definition file of the ASCII file or LN table is used.

This field name is associated with the data found in the physical ASCII file in a certain column. These fields are mapped to LN table fields in the Field Relations (Import) (daxch0522m000) session and the Field Relations (Export) (daxch0532m000) session.

Description

The description of the ASCII file field.

Field Type

The data type of the ASCII field.

Allowed values

Alphanumeric

All string fields and multibyte fields can be grouped as alphanumeric fields.

Numeric

All longs, doubles, or other numeric types and dates, text numbers, and so on, should be grouped as numeric fields.

Note: Define a field as numeric if it is used for making calculations in condition scripts.
Multiline Text

Special option that adds unlimited lined of text to the physical ASCII file. If the ASCII file contains actual text lines instead of a text number the corresponding ASCII file field should be of the type multiline. Multiline texts in the ASCII file are enclosed in unique character sequences like {\{ and }\}.

Start Position

The column number in an ASCII file where the ASCII file field starts.

The start position declares the position of the data in the physical ASCII file.

If no field separator is defined in the details session of the Exchange Schemes (daxch0501m000) session, the start position must be specified.

Note: If this field is changed, you do not have to generate the import program or the export program again.
Length

The length of an ASCII file field with a variable length must be specified. No length is specified for an ASCII file field with a fixed length.

Note: 
  • If this field is changed, you do not have to generate the import program or the export program again.
  • The length of an ASCII file field that represents a multiline text is zero.
ASCII Field Text

If this check box is selected, additional information is available for this ASCII file field. The information is generated in the text editor.

Click the Edit Text button on the toolbar to start the text editor.