Specifying source and target files

The source file and the corresponding target file can be specified in one of three ways:

Specifying fully qualified file names

Source and target files can be selected by specifying fully qualified file names. A single file generation can also be specified in this way.

In this case, the file attributes of the source file are transferred internally from the catalog entry.

The file attributes of the source file likewise apply to the target file.

The following file attributes are registered (see /ADD-FILE-LINK):

• access method

• record format

• record length

• data block length

• key length in ISAM files

• key position in ISAM files

• multiple keys in ISAM files

• length of logical markers in ISAM files

• length of value markers in ISAM files

• character set

Specifying selection criteria

The source file is specified in the form of a partial qualification with or without additional selection criteria (operand SELECT=*BY-ATTRIBUTES(...) of the CONVERT-FILE statement with CREATION-DATE, LAST-ACCESS-DATE, SIZE, FILE-STRUCTURE, BLKSIZE, BLKCTRL).

This information is used to determine all files to be converted (see /SHOW-FILE-ATTRIBUTES in the manual “Commands” [1 (Related publications)]).

The names of the target files may include wildcards (see /SHOW-FILE-ATTRIBUTES).

The remaining attributes of the target file are the same as for the source file.

If LMR module libraries were included in the specification of selection criteria for PAM files, the module libraries could be destroyed.

To avoid this, a check is performed prior to conversion of a PAM file. LMR module libraries are then recognized and not converted. LMR module libraries can be converted using the ISP-LMS (/EXEC $LMS).

PAM files which are load modules are recognized as such and converted to the appropriate load module file format.

 

Specifying a reference via a link name

The reference is established via the link name to a previous /ADD-FILE-LINK specifying the file.

The link name is specified in the *LINK(LINK-NAME=...) operand of the CONVERT-FILE statement.

This method can also be used to select a single file generation.

The link name is mandatory if the target file is to have specific attributes which cannot be taken from the catalog entry of the source file. These include in particular:

• SPACE definitions

• index/data separation (for K-ISAM files only)

• PAD factor (normally the default value is used)

• RETPD specification

• WROUT=NO (WROUT=YES is standard)

• WRCHK=YES (WRCHK=NO is standard)