Enabling and Disabling Variable Length Character Strings

This procedure explains how to enable the use of variable character columns for a particular table.

To enable or disable the use of varchars

  1. Create a directives text file to enable varchars. The minimum information required for the file is two lines in the following format:

    D dataarea

    F file_name UseVarchars = value

    where value is Y, K, or N.

    • Y enables varchars in all non-indexed columns in the data area.

    • K enables varchars in all columns in the data area, indexed and non-indexed.

    • N disables varchars in all columns in the data area.

  2. Run the editda utility. Type:

    editda -c productline dir_file

    where productline is the product line containing the data area and dir_file is the path to the directives file.

  3. Rebuild the dictionary. Type:

    blddbdict -p dataarea

  4. Reorganize the database. Type:

    dbreorg -p dataarea

    It is a good idea to keep the directives file you created in step 1 as a record of the changes made to a data area.