File.Write Line Command

[Thomas Holt]

Hello All,

I am attempting to use either the file.write or the file.write_line commands. I have read through the manuals and I'm definately missing the point somewhat. Below is the script I am trying to use.

tbl=table.open("tcs_expfile")
file_pointer=file_open("c:tcs_exporttcs_export.txt",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl.fetch_first()
while .not. tbl.fetch_eof()
file_pointer.write_line(tbl.tcs)
tbl.fetch_next()
end while
file_pointer.flush()
file_pointer.close()

This script produces the error "file_pointer.write_line(tbl.tcs)
file_pointer.write_line method not found"

The field I would like to write to the existing file (tcs_ecport.txt) is the 'TCS' field. Any help on correcting this script or pointing out where I am going wrong as always appreciated.

Cheers
Tom

[Jim Rowlen]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Just finished messing with write_line(). Below is the basic components that worked with file_create (haven't needed to use file_open yet). Using write_line("") advances to a new line in the file. Since you're in a WHILE, maybe it needs to do that before you do a second write with data (and maybe not having it leads to the error when it cycles to that line a second time)?

Another possibility? You have a long file name. Is there a length limit for the name with file_open? I wouldn't think so, just throwing out ideas.

FileName = FilePathName + alltrim(var->Client) + var->DateID + ".asc"
FilePtr = file.create(FileName, FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
RecToWrite = "bunch of stuff here"
FilePtr.write(RecToWrite) ' write the line
FilePtr.write_line("") ' set for new line
FilePtr.flush()
FilePtr.close()

[Stan Mathews]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Thomas,

You script looks ok but the "call" to evaluate tbl.tcs "while executing" the write_line()may be confusing Alpha. Try changing

file_pointer.write_line(tbl.tcs) to

linevar = tbl.tcs
file_pointer.write_line(linevar)

Good luck.

Stan

[Thomas Holt]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Thanks Jim,

I now have a script that functions as below :

dim tbl as p
tbl=table.open("tcs_expfile")
file_pointer=file.open("c:tcs_exporttcs_export.txt",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)
tbl.fetch_first()
while .not. tbl.fetch_eof()
file_pointer.write_line (tbl.tcs)
tbl.fetch_next()
end while
file_pointer.flush()
file_pointer.close()
END

Is it possible to insert an the alltrim function anywhere in the line
"file_pointer.write_line (tbl.tcs)"

Also I am writing variable length data fields to the output file. As the output file is a .txt file is it possible to write the record with no trailing blanks??

Any help greatly apreciated.

Cheers
Tom

[Thomas Holt]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Thanks very much Genmtlemen,

I am now at a stage where the script works with an alltrim command the working script is as below. Please read past the script as I have another question relating to an export to a .txt file

tbl=table.open("tcs_expfile")
file_pointer=file.open("c:tcs_exporttcs_export.txt",FILE_RW_EXCLUSIVE)

tbl.fetch_first()
while .not. tbl.fetch_eof()
linevar=alltrim(tbl.tcs)
file_pointer.write_line (linevar)
tbl.fetch_next()
end while
file_pointer.flush()
file_pointer.close()
END

The maximum length of the tbl.tcs field is 135 characters. The company who is receiving the file says that it can have no blank spaces at the end of each record. If the data in the field is of varying length, i.e the longest field is 134 characters the shorteast 34 characters, will the shortest field have 100 blank spaces at the end of the record (once it has been exported to the .txt file) even though there is now an alltrim function in the script. I hope this is clear and someone can shed some light on this issue, if it is as above then I believe there requirements are unobtainable. (For me at least).

Once again thanke for all the time and help given on this matter.

Cheers
Tom

[Tom Cone Jr]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Tom, I think if you examined the resulting text file with a disk editor you would see that a carriage return linefeed pair immediately follow your trimmed text. I don't think you will have any blank spaces between the end of your trimmed text and the CR LF pair.

-- tom

[Stan Mathews]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Tom,

Per the documentation

file_pointer.write_line (text line)

will write the text line and append a carriage return and a line feed to the end of the text line. You should see no "extra" spaces at the end of each line when you use your alltrim function as shown.

If you are going to overwrite your

c:\tcs_export\tcs_export.txt

file each time you use this script, I would add a file.remove() command to the script just before you open it (the file).

If you are going to append to the file each time, once it exists, you will need code to test for it's existence and to find the end of the file and to set the offset to that end position.

Stan

[Thomas Holt]

RE: File.Write Line Command

Hello All,

Thanks for the responses on this issue, I am now away from the office. I will give the final suggestions another go in the mornin.
Once again many thanks for your patience and help on this matter.

Cheerd
Tom