HP Data Entry and Forms Management System (VPLUS) Reference Manual (32209-90024)

Chapter 5 183
Reformatting Specifications
Files
Files
One batch file containing collected data can be reformatted into one output file. This
output file is then used as input to the application that processes the collected data. Data
from more than one batch file can be written to one output file in sequence — that is, data
from a batch file can be appended to data from another batch file in an existing output file
with an MPE :FILE command equation. (See "Concatenating Batch Files", this chapter, for
an example of this.) Without a file equation, data from each batch file overwrites data in an
existing output file.
The reformatting specifications themselves are stored in a "reformat" file. The
specifications in this file determine how the data in the batch file is to be stored in the
output file.
One output file is generated for each reformat file. If you wish to separate the data into
more than one output file, you must establish different reformat files, and run the
reformatter program separately, to generate each output file. REFSPEC accepts either
KSAM or standard MPE reformat files. The only forms files created by REFSPEC,
however, are MPE files. In the MPE reformat files, the key and form records are
interspersed throughout the file. MPE reformat files do not require extra data segments
and are automatically recovered after a power failure or system crash. Refer to Appendix
H for information on converting KSAM files to MPE files.
Reformat File
The reformat file consists of the following components:
Forms File Name Identifies the forms file that contains the forms through
which data in the batch file was entered.
Global Information Specifications that apply to the entire output file, such as a
string used for an end-of-record mark, or record length
and whet her the record length is fixed or variable. Any or
all global specifications can be omitted since defaults are
provided.
Input Forms Sequence Specify the form names on which data to be reformatted
was entered. Only data from the forms in an input forms
sequence is written to the output file. At least one input
forms sequence must be included, and as many may be
included as there are forms in the forms file.
Output Record Definition Specify each field to be written to the output file, and
define the beginning of each output record. Usually, one
output record definition follows each input forms
sequence.
Field Specifications Special reformatting at the field level can be specified for
each field listed in the preceding output record definition.
This information is entered on menus very much like those issued for FORMSPEC. Figure
5-2. illustrates a prototype REFORMAT file.