IBM Sterling Gentran:Server for iSeries Outbound Application Definition and redefining fields

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Customer question: if I redefine a field (subfield) in an Outbound Application Definition, can I use the original field for some maps and the redefined field (subfield) for other maps?

Support answer: Yes, this can be done for Outbound Application Definitions, only. New fields are created from the redefine (subfield), and can be referenced when needed.

Basically, Gentran:Server reads the positions of an application field within a file. You can copy a field to the next field sequence, give it a field name, data type, and provide the start and end positions. The mapper will use those positions for mapping data.

for example, you have a field defined in a file and you want to redefine it for mapping purposes:

010 F010.Original Field  AN  1  80

you would copy this field to:

011 F010.Redefine Field   AN  1  10

Results are:

the application definition has the Original Field and the Redefine Field available.

the Redefine Field only pulls the data located in position 1 - 10, while the Original Field has all of the data.

NOTE: This NOT possible with Inbound Application Definitions, because Gentran:Server initializes the application definition before processing, so the original field is not available during mapping. Only the redefined fields would be available.