Format (MQCHAR8)

This field shows the IBM MQ format name of the data that follows the MQCIH structure.

On the MQPUT or MQPUT1 call, the application must set this field to the value appropriate to the data. The rules for coding this field are the same as the rules for coding the Format field in MQMD.

This format name is also used for the reply message, if the ReplyToFormat field has the value MQFMT_NONE.

  • For DPL requests, Format must be the format name of the COMMAREA.
  • For 3270 requests, Format must be CSQCBDCI, and the bridge sets the format to CSQCBDCO for Reply messages.

The data-conversion exits for these formats must be installed on the queue manager where they are to run.

If the request message generates an error reply message, the error reply message has a format name of MQFMT_STRING.

This field is a request field. The length of this field is given by MQ_FORMAT_LENGTH. The initial value of this field is MQFMT_NONE.

Parent topic: Fields for MQCIH