HP 3000 Manual page 39

Column 8 Entry
U
* Maximum field length applies to both factor 1 and factor 2 data.
** If you specify an alternate collating sequence, you cannot use packed data for record selection factors or
sort control fields. Do not enter a P in column 8 of your include or omit Record Type Specifications or in
column 8 of your Field Description specs used to define control fields.
NOTE
See Appendix C for charts which will be helpful in data formatting.
Columns 9-16: Factor 1 Field
Factor 1 field identifies your record. For example, all your inventory records may contain a 2 in column 2.
That would make column 2 a factor 1 field. By comparing factor 1 fields against constants or other fields in
the same record, XSORT identifies records you want sorted. Columns 9-16 identify the locations of factor 1
fields in the records. You may at times have more than one factor 1 field. When there is more than one,
you must do the following:
• Describe each field in a separate Record Type line.
• Put an A (for AND) in column 7 for all but the first field. This will identify those following as
applying to the same Record Type.
Length of the Factor 1 Field
Each factor 1 field can contain from 1 to 256 characters. A factor 1 field cannot be longer than the records
you are working with, however. The length of your input records determines how long your factor 1 field
can be. Your column 8 entry also controls the maximum length of the factor 1 field.
Column 8 Entry
C
P
U
* If factor 2 is a constant, the length of the factor 1 field must not exceed 61 characters (see columns 20-80
for additional information).
** When factor 1 is packed, the field may actually represent 27 decimal digits and a sign.
Coding Rules
For readability these specifications should be right-justified. The entry which tells where the factor 1 field
begins--where to read from--should end in column 12. The entry which tells where factor 1 ends--where to
read through--should end in column 16. If you have factor 1 fields that are only one character long, you can
leave columns 9-12 (from) blank and enter the single number of columns 13-16 (to). The example below
describes the position of a factor 1 field which has a 2 entered in column 4.
Comparison Type
Numeric data is unpacked.
Maximum Factor 1 Field Length
256 characters *
14 characters **
28 characters
Maximum Field Length*
28 characters (unpacked digits)
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