Record format line data

A type of line data that is supported by PSF and formatted by a page definition is record format line data. With this format, each data record contains a record identifier, which selects the record descriptor (RCD) in a record format page definition that is used to format the line data, and might contain a carriage control (CC) byte. Record identifiers are 1-250 bytes. However, within a data map, all record identifiers must be the same length. You can use blanks to make the record identifiers the required length. Figure 32 shows the form of record format line data:

Figure 32. Record format line data record

The CC byte is required when record format data is mixed with MO:DCA-P data, but is ignored. The CC byte is optional for record format line data at all other times, but if you put it in, you must inform PSF that it is there. For information about specifying the CC byte, see Specifying carriage control and table reference characters in line data.

Many functions used in the line descriptor (LND) to format traditional line data are used in the RCD to format record format line data. Others, such as header and trailer processing, are unique to RCDs. For more information about formatting line data, see Advanced Function Presentation: Programming Guide and Line Data Reference, S544-3884.

Traditional line data is similar to record format line data in that neither is formatted into pages. However, traditional line data can be printed on line printers while record format line data cannot.