Improperly indicated DBCS files

 

If you do not properly indicate that a file is a DBCS file, some errors might occur.

• For printer files, printer data management assumes the output data to the printer does not contain double-byte data. The end result depends on the type of printer the data is printed on and the status of the replace unprintable character parameter for the printer file you are using.

  If the replace-unprintable-character option is selected, printer data management interprets shift-control characters as unprintable characters and replaces them with blanks. The double-byte data itself is interpreted as alphanumeric data, and the printer attempts to print it as such. The printed double-byte data does not make sense.

  If the replace-unprintable-character option is not selected and the printer is an alphanumeric printer, the double-byte data, including the control characters, is sent as is to the printer. On most alphanumeric printers, the shift-control characters are not supported, and an error will occur at the printer.

  If the replace-unprintable-character option is not selected and the printer is a DBCS printer, the double-byte data is printed with the exception of extended characters. Because the file was not indicated as a DBCS file, the system does not perform extended character processing. The extended characters are printed with the symbol for undefined double-byte characters.

• For display files, display data management assumes that the output data to the display does not contain double-byte data. The end result depends on whether the display is an alphanumeric or DBCS display.

  If the display is an alphanumeric display, the double-byte data is interpreted as alphanumeric data. The shift-control characters appear as anks. The displayed double-byte data does not make sense.

  If the display is a DBCS display, the double-byte data is displayed with the exception of extended characters. The system does not perform extended character processing on the data. Therefore, extended characters are displayed with the symbol for undefined double-byte characters.

• The system does not recognize literals with DBCS text as double-byte literals if the source file is not specified as a DBCS file.

• Making printer files capable of DBCS
  When the data involved contains double-byte characters, the printer file that is used to place the data into the spooled file must be capable of processing double-byte data.

 

Parent topic:

DBCS device file support