Post by rprinceton on Apr 22, 2019 20:34:45 GMT -5
Hello,
I deal with many mainframe data files. These files contain binary and packed data as well as displayable chars.
I have the "Use DIR name AS PROFILE when no File extension" selection checked.
I understand why the author of SPFLite is attempting to associate the directory to the "Type".
In mainframe SPF, ISPF libraries have A Project, Group and Type concept, i.e., TMSDF93.Z.CNTL would mean a Project=TMSDF93, Z=Group and CNTL=Type.
On the PC to eliminate the file extension, this might become C:\TMSDF93\Z\CNTL where CNTL would dictate the file attributes for all those files contained in dir: C:\TMSDF93\Z\CNTL using a profile named CNTL.INI.
On the mainframe, type CNTL would typically have an LRECL of 80 bytes.
This means that ONLY files that contain 80 bytes can be stored in this directory structure.
There are inherent issues with this approach, first unless I am not understanding something, this option does not seem to work, and secondly even if it does work this forces a user to 1) ensure that ONLY files with an LRECL=80 will be stored in this directory, 2) only files considered to be PDS members would lend itself to this approach and 3) any mainframe files need to be renamed so the last node is not considered to be a file extension.
Now consider a mainframe file named: TMSDF93.SID.CNTL.NOTES. This file may have an LRECL of 121.
Using the "Use DIR name AS PROFILE when no File extension" concept it would end up as C:\TMSDF93\SID\CNTL\NOTES.
You now have a collision with profile CNTL.INI. It is set at 80 bytes to accommodate C:\TMSDF93\Z\CNTL but now has to be 121 for C:\TMSDF93\SID\CNTL\NOTES.
I have circumvented this by renaming the mainframe files to append a .data extension. data.INI is generic in the sense that I can enter LRECL 121 or any other attributes in the command line, issue the reload command and the file is displayed in proper alignment.
This brings me to my question which would solve this issue. Is there any command e.g., "a change profile command"
that enables applying a specific predefined profile to the file currently being edited and redisplaying the file?
The PROF USE PROFx comes close but many times does not allow such a change because a default profile is in use.
Please advise. Thank you in advance.
Regards,
RPrinceton
