HP 3000 Manuals HP 3000 Manuals
REFORMATTING DATA
Data entered through ENTRY is written to a batch file. This file can
then be used as input to an application. Sometimes it is necessary to
reformat the data in the batch file so that it meets the input
requirements of the application. VPLUS/V meets this need with a
reformatting capability that allows you to:
* Combine data entered on several forms into one output record.
* Separate data entered on a single form into several output records.
* Rearrange data within a record, inserting constants, and generating
cheek digits before writing it to the output file.
* Format data within fields by justifying, filling, stripping
characters, or adjusting the sign of a numeric value.
REFSPEC, described in Section 5, is used to specify how you want the
batch file reformatted. This program operates very much like FORMSPEC in
that it displays menus, allows you to "draw" a pattern of the output
record, and allows you to accept default field formatting or specify your
particular formatting.
When you have completed the reformat specifications, you compile the
reformat file. This file is used by REFORMAT to read data from the batch
file, reformat it, and write it to "output file".
REFORMAT can be run at any time after a data entry batch file has been
written. It can be run from a terminal or as a batch job, requiring only
the names of the batch file, the reformat file, and the output file.
When REFORMAT is executed, the data in the batch file is written,
according to the reformat specifications, to the output file. The output
file is then ready to be used by the application.
Refer back to Figure 1-1 for the flow of data between the batch file,
through the reformatting specifications entered with REFSPEC, to the
output file.