NCL File Processing › UDB File Formats › Delimited Format Files

Delimited Format Files

Data in UDB format files is stored in records that contain any number of fields to a maximum total record size of 32K, which is the maximum statement size that can be processed by NCL. Each field is isolated from the next by a high-value (X'FF') field separator and the last field in a record is followed by a field separator. The length of a field is determined by the length of data supplied by the NCL user. The occurrence of two consecutive field separators indicates the presence of a null field that contained no data when the record was created, even though the field concerned is logically part of the record. The total length of any record includes the key and all field separators.

The rules for field separators within UDB format files are:

• A field separator follows each field
• No field separator follows the key
• A trailing field separator follows the last field, unless it is a key-only file with no data other than the key
• Two consecutive field separators indicate a field of 0 length (a null field)