WHEN XFD directive

Restriction: This topic applies only when a Database Connectors license has been installed via the Micro Focus License Management System.

The WHEN XFD directive is used when you want to include multiple record definitions or REDEFINES in a database table. It's typically used when you want to force certain columns to be built that wouldn't be built by default (because you want to use them from the RDBMS side). For more information, see REDEFINES Clause.

Recall that the key fields and the fields from the largest record are automatically included as explicit columns in the database table. All fields are stored and retrieved from the database, whether they appear as explicit columns or not. So you don't need to use WHEN unless you want to ensure that some additional fields are explicitly listed by name in the table. For details about how fields are included in the database table, see How XFDs Are Formed.

WHEN declares that the field (or subordinate fields, if it is a group item) that immediately follow the XFD directive must appear as a column (or columns) in the database table. It also states one condition under which the columns are to be used. The WHEN XFD directive guarantees that the fields are explicitly included in the table, as long as they aren't FILLER and don't occupy the same area as key fields.

The WHEN XFD directive results in a table that unites all fields subordinate to the WHEN XFD directive. This table might include more columns and could affect performance and storage requirements.

Syntax

$XFD WHEN field = value     (equals)
$XFD WHEN field <= value    (is less than or equals)
$XFD WHEN field < value     (is less than)
$XFD WHEN field >= value    (is greater than or equals)
$XFD WHEN field > value     (is greater than)
$XFD WHEN field != value    (is not equal to)
$XFD WHEN field = OTHER

The value may be an explicit data value (in quotes). The word "OTHER" can be used only with "=". It means use the following field(s) only if the WHEN condition(s) listed at the level of this field are not met.

Note: WHEN values must be on individual lines as single values in the code. WHEN values cannot be combined.

For example:

     03 ar-code-type                  pic x. 
$xfd when ar-code-type = "s" 
     03 ship-code-record              pic x(4). 
$xfd when ar-code-type = "b" 
     03 backorder-code-record redefines ship-code-record. 
$xfd when ar-code-type = other 
     03 obsolete-code-record redefines ship-code-record.

OTHER may be used before one record definition, and may be used once at each level within each record definition.

Note: A WHEN XFD directive with condition OTHER must be used if there is a possibility that the data in the field does not meet any of the explicit conditions specified in the other WHEN XFD directives. If this is not done, results are undefined.

Example 1

01 ar-codes-record.
  03 ar-codes-key.
    05 ar-code-type    pic x.
    05 ar-code-num     pic 999.
01 ship-code-record.
  03 filler            pic x(4).
  03 ship-instruct     pic x(15).
01 terms-code-record. 
  03 filler            pic x(4).
  03 terms-rate-1      pic s9v999.
  03 terms-days-1      pic 9(3).
  03 terms-rate-2      pic s9v999.
  03 terms-descript    pic x(15).

If you add the WHEN XFD directive as shown below, it causes the fields from the SHIP-CODE-RECORD to be included in the database table, and determines when specific database columns are used. The underlined fields then appear as columns in the database table:

 01 ar-codes-record.
   03 ar-codes-key.
     05 ar-code-type      pic x.
     05 ar-code-num       pic 999.
$xfd when ar-code-type = "s"
 01 ship-code-record.
   03 filler              pic x(4).
   03 ship-instruct       pic x(15).
$xfd when ar-code-type = "t"
 01 terms-code-record.
   03 filler              pic x(4).
   03 terms-rate-1        pic s9v999. 
   03 terms-days-1        pic 9(3) 
   03 terms-rate-2        pic s9v999.
   03 terms-descript      pic x(15).

FILLER data items don't have unique names and are thus not used to form columns in the database table. You could use the NAME XFD d