Dataloader/MP Reference Manual

Table Of Contents

Specifying File-Related Options for DataLoader/MP

DataLoader/MP Reference Manual—424148-003

4-7

INDIRECT

The INDIRECT interpretation directs the file system to treat the contents of the file as a

list of file names. These file names can themselves have DataLoader/MP features.

This interpretation can be used in several ways:

•

Use a group of files as input by creating an edit file called FILE1 that would look

like this:

$DATA1.ARDATA.MYFILE1

$DATA1.ARDATA.MYFILE2

Then include the INDIRECT interpretation in the -I parameter:

-I=FILE1(INDIRECT)

DataLoader/MP reads each of these files in sequence.

•

Suppose you have 10 tapes you need to use as input. Logically, they are a single

file. If they have standard labels, you can set up a DEFINE and read them as a

single file, transparently, because the Guardian file system will automatically switch

from one reel to the next for the application and will report an end of file only when

it encounters the end of the last reel. To use the DEFINE name as the input file,

use the -I parameter at the TACL command line:

DATALOAD...-I~==TapeDefine

If the tapes are not labelled, you cannot make a DEFINE to use them together, and

the application will get an end of file status code at the end of each reel. One way

to solve this problem is to use the INDIRECT interpretation. Create an edit file that

has the tape drive’s name on each line for as many lines as there are reels:

$TAPE(RECFORM=FB<RECSIZE=200>)

...

Use the INDIRECT option with your edit file name, and DataLoader/MP will read

each tape, then ask for a new tape to be mounted.

•

Use a group of output files as a single unit if you want to break down a large file

into a number of files, or if the input data is more than can be put into a single

Guardian file. To do this, create an edit file and list the files in the order in which

you want them written. Specify the edit file as the output file and specify the

INDIRECT interpretation. DataLoader/MP will write to the first file until it fills up or

until the number of records specified with the MAX modifier have been written to

the file, then to the next file, and so on.

DataLoader/MP will not split a record across two files. If the current file cannot hold the

entire next record, the whole record is placed in the next file. The same result occurs

when multiple output files are created because of errors 43 or 45. Avoiding split

records allows files created in this way to be processed individually by programs other

than DataLoader/MP.