Using packed fields in a key

[Stewart.Marion]

I cannot remember why we don't want to do this - I was thinking it might be the signed portion of the packed field.  I have a manager asking why we don't use packed fields in a key.  Any input is appreciated.  thank you

[Karina Pulinx]

Hi Marion, 

 

You can use signed packed decimal fields in a key if you make that key data-sensitive. 

If you don't  then you get  warning message  DDWKEY0013  during the catalog of the database: 

 

SIGNED NUMERIC FIELD IN KEY

Reason:

During the verification of a DATABASE structure, a KEY substructure was detected that contains a FIELD entity-occurrence with a TYPE attribute-value of N or D and a SIGN attribute-value of Y. Use of a signed numeric FIELD entity-occurrence in a key can cause the data records to be sorted and retrieved in a different sequence than expected.

Action:

This is a warning message only. No action is required if this manner of sorting and retrieval is acceptable. To obtain a logical sorting sequence, change the KEY entity-occurrence DATA-SENSITIVE attribute-value to Y.

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Have a great day, Karina.

[Stewart.Marion]

Thank you - I will pass this along.