how to define a 16mb field

[CLSCoyote]

I have a parameter bigger than the maximum allowed size 64375a, I have read that variables can be declared with a maximum of 16mb, what is the correct way to declare it?

is it correct to do so?

D                                 a   varying len(16773100) 

Thanks!

[jtaylor___]

If you want to use fixed format, I think you have to put the length in the correct columns. I've been using free so long I can't say for sure. I think you can prompt the line in RDi and that will show you where the length goes.

[CLSCoyote]

Thank you very much, by customer standard, I cannot use full free.

[JonBoy]

It should work but why not use free-form?

       dcl-s  bigOne varchar(16000000);

It is possible that in fixed form you may need to specify varying(4) to indicate the need for a longer length portion - but the compiler should know that from the field length.

[CLSCoyote]

Thank you!

[Scholli2000]

It should work but why not use free-form?
It is possible that in fixed form you may need to specify varying(4) to indicate the need for a longer length portion - but the compiler should know that from the field length.

Yep, you'll find an example in IBM's "ILE RPG Reference" (Version 7.3)

D max_len_a       S               A   VARYING LEN(16773100)

and this statement:

If you specify VARCHAR, VARGRAPH, or VARUCS2
without a second parameter, or VARYING without a parameter, a size of 2 is assumed if the specified
length is between 1 and 65535; otherwise, a size of 4 is assumed.

[jtaylor___]

Are you getting an error on the fixed-format declare? If so, is the system current on OS & PTFs?

[Barbara Morris]

The syntax of coding just the type A and using the LEN keyword has been supported since 6.1, before there was such a thing as free-form definitions. 6.1 was when 16 MB variables were first supported; the LEN keyword was needed because the length column only allows 7 digits.

CLSCoyote's code is correct:

[COLOR=#000000][COLOR=#0000BB]D                                 a   varying len[/COLOR][COLOR=#007700]([/COLOR][COLOR=#0000BB]16773100[/COLOR][COLOR=#007700])[/COLOR][/COLOR]

[CLSCoyote]

The syntax of coding just the type A and using the LEN keyword has been supported since 6.1, before there was such a thing as free-form definitions. 6.1 was when 16 MB variables were first supported; the LEN keyword was needed because the length column only allows 7 digits.

CLSCoyote's code is correct:

[COLOR=#000000][COLOR=#0000BB]D a varying len[/COLOR][COLOR=#007700]([/COLOR][COLOR=#0000BB]16773100[/COLOR][COLOR=#007700])[/COLOR][/COLOR]

Thanks Barbara,

From what you say, I cannot declare this type of variables in a DS?

Thank you

[JonBoy]

You could - but there wouldn't be any point because the DS has to fit within the 16Mb range. No point in a DS with just one field.

[Barbara Morris]

But you can define a subfield using the LEN keyword. Even if the length isn't bigger than 9,999,999.

     D ds              ds                           
     D   subf                          a   len(100)