Data Transformation Engine Type Designer Reference Guide

Chapter 7 - Group Properties Explicit Format
Suppose Name has an * initiator and a space pad character. This is the data for
StudyGroup:
*Carolyn * *Stuart *Margaret
Notice that the second Name is missing.
If Track Places is specified and you want to map the third Name, the empty
Name would be counted as an occurrence, so the third Name would be
Stuart.
However, if Track Content is specified, the empty Name would not be counted
as an occurrence because it does not have content and the third Name would be
Margaret.
Fixed Syntax
If a group data object is always the same size (in bytes), it has a fixed syntax. For
example, a record that is always 160 bytes has a fixed syntax.
Each component of a fixed group must be fixed. If you break down a fixed group,
it ultimately consists of items that are fixed. Each is padded to a fixed size or its
minimum and maximum content size are equal. Do not specify the size of a fixed
group. The size is automatically calculated based on the size of the group’s
components.
For example, order data consists of the following lines:
125378 ABC Company widget BX18Q54397X
347901 Crunden Maxwell stopwatch CT0001RRVVC
626455 Dance Away Shoes deck shoes BX00634AAQW
789234 Martin Purple birdhouse PK193456782
Vendor#
Header: a fixed
formatted group
CompanyName
Header: a fixed
formatted group
D
escription
Item: a fixed size
D
escription
Item: a fixed size