Positional flat files

A positional flat file has fields that have a fixed maximum length and records that have a common end-of-record terminator.

For example, if a positional flat file on a UNIX system has a Name field that is fixed at a maximum of fifteen characters, a Color field that is fixed at a maximum of ten characters, white space padding the end of each field, and the \n new line feed character, it would appear as shown in the example below:

Figure 1. Fragment of a positional flat file


          NAME           COLOR     \n   
          Sam            turquoise \n
          David          red       \n
          Elizabeth      orange    \n