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fconvert isam file with autoseq value


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we should be able to convert an isam file with an auto sequence field to a text file instead of getting an error:  

%FCONVERT:  Cannot unload isam file that contains integer keys to a sequential file

fconvert should be able to handle built in functionality in isam files without an error.  

2 Comments | Posted by Greg Creme to Synergy DBL, Synergy .NET on 8/30/2022, 4:01 PM
Steve Ives
Hi Greg,

I believe that what you are describing is expected behavior, it will do the same for any file that contains any kind of binary data, including auto-sequence and auto-timestamp fields, both of which consist of I8 values.

The solution is to export to either a relative file (fconvert -or) or a counted file (fconvert -oc) and then load the data back with the appropriate input switches (fconvert -ir or fconvert -ic). Doing this will maintain the integrity of the binary data.

As for files with an auto sequence key, as long as you follow the procedures above, the values of the auto sequence key will be correctly preserved. If you don't want them to be preserved and would prefer they are re-initialized, then there is an fconvert -ak option to allow you to do that.

For more information, check out the documentation, specifically the sections on counted files and autokeys near the bottom of this page:

https://www.synergex.com/docs/versions/v121/index.htm#tools/toolsChap3FCONVERT.htm

 

9/15/2022, 9:10 PM   0  
Greg Creme
HI Steve, 

I understand that it is expected behavior but I think the behavior could be improved, thus the idea post.  

Considering that autoseq (and autotime) are synergy types, Synergy should know how to deal with them in conversions to and from text files.  It should be able to recognize them as such, and do the conversions for us to and from binary data.  Since you know that they are just going to be integers (or date fields), that seems fairly easy and straightforward to me to implement. 

That would make them much more usable than they are today.  

Thanks

9/16/2022, 1:40 PM   0  
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