Guardian Programmer's Guide

Table Of Contents
Using the IOEdit Procedures
Guardian Programmer’s Guide 421922-014
14 - 5
Packed Line Format
Note that blank lines have a number. Inserted lines use up to three levels of index or
“point” numbers. An example of how point numbers might be applied is given below:
A record number is a line number multiplied by 1000. Line 1 in the previous example is
therefore contained in record 1000, line 1.1 in record 1100, and line 6.003 in record
6003. The relationship between the record number and the record itself is maintained
in a directory in the file. The record number therefore has a function similar to the key
value in an Enscribe key-sequenced file.
Packed Line Format
Lines are not saved character by character in an EDIT file as in an Enscribe file.
Instead, spaces within the line are compressed not only to take up less space on disk
but also to reduce the time needed to perform data transfers.
Most programs using IOEdit read and write text-line images in the normal unpacked
format; IOEdit converts each line image between the two formats. For efficiency
reasons, however, some programs read and write lines directly in the EDIT packed
format.
Figure 14-1 shows the format of a packed IOEdit line.
If a line is inserted
between...
Then the new line is
given line number...
lines 6 and 7 6.1
lines 6 and 6.1 6.01
lines 6 and 6.01 6.001
lines 6 and 6.001 6.001, and the original line 6.001 is renumbered