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Binary
The Binary connector can be used to read or write almost any fixed-length single record type file. Whether the data is straight ASCII, some combination of EBCDIC and packed data, flat COBOL files, C, or BASIC files, you can define the record structure and transform the data to another format or application.
Because the integration platform is not a communication package, data that resides on a mainframe or mini-computer must first be downloaded to a local or network drive before the file can be read. When writing out a file to be used in an application on another platform, you write the file to a local or network drive. Then use a communication package to "move" that data file to the mainframe or mini system.
Multiple Record Types Possible
Binary files can contain multiple structured schemas. If your source Binary file has multiple structured schemas, you can find information by searching in the help for "multiple record types."
Connector-Specific Notes
This connector does not support truncation error trapping. If the target field size is too small for the data written to it, the offending record may be skipped or incomplete data may be written to the target. The transformation does not stop due to a truncation error.
If the alternate field or record separator is not listed
1. Highlight the default separator.
2. Enter the separator as an ASCII character.
3. Example: If the separator is a line feed, enter LF
4. To use a hex value instead, go to step 3.
5. Enter a backslash, an "x", and the hex value for the separator.
6. Example: If the separator is a line feed, enter \x0a.
For a list of the 256 standard and extended ASCII characters, search for "hex values" in the help.
Property Options
Note:  If you have EBCDIC source data, it is necessary to set the proper EBCDIC code page before setting the field widths.
You can set the following (S) and target (T) properties.
Property
S/T
Description
CodePage
ST
This translation table determines which encoding to use for reading and writing data. The default is ANSI, the standard in the US.
OccursPad
S
When using COBOL files, you may have fields of variable length. If so, you may specify how to fill the field with pads to a fixed length by selecting one of the following:
None (the default) – leaves the fields uneven.
End of Record – fills the remainder of the record with your specified pad character.
Within Group – fills the field with your specified pad character.
PageSize
ST
When data records are arranged in blocks and the last record in each block is padded to the end of the block, it is necessary to set Page Size. This causes the pad characters to be stripped from the file during the data transfer. To set page size, click Page Size, highlight the default value (zero), and type the correct page size value for your data.
RecordSeparator
ST
When a COBOL file is your source connector and you are using a 01 copybook to define the fields, you might have a record separator at the end of each record. If so, you may specify the record separator as None, which causes the map to ignore the record separator when it reads the source data. The default is None.
The separators are carriage return-line feed (CR-LF), line feed (LF), carriage return (CR), line feed-carriage return (LF-CR), form feed (FF), Empty Line, and None.
When writing a binary file, you may want to place a record separator at the end of each record (similar to a Fixed ASCII record separator). You may select a record separator from the list, or highlight the current value and type your own.
ShortLastRecord
S
If set to true, short reads are ignored on the last record of the file. In other words, the last record is processed even if the End of File (EOF) is reached before reading the end of the record. The default is false.
StartOffset
S
If your source data file starts with characters that need to be excluded from the transformation, set the StartOffset option to specify at which byte of the file to begin. The default value is zero. The correct value may be determined by using the Hex Browser.
Note
This property is set in number of bytes, not characters.
 
 
Data Types
The following data types are available:
16-bit binary
16-bit logical
24-bit binary
32-bit binary
32-bit IEEE floating-point
32-bit TEC binary
32-bit VAX floating-point
64-bit binary
64-bit IEEE floating point
64-bit VAX floating-point
8-bit binary
80-bit Intel floating-point
AccPac 41-bit binary
BCD
Binary
Boolean
Btrieve date
Btrieve time
Column binary alpha-numeric
Column binary multi-punch
Column binary numeric
Comp
Comp-1
Comp-2
Comp-3
Comp-5
Comp-6
Comp-X
Complex
Cray floating-point
Date
DateTime
dBASE Numeric
Display
Display Boolean
Display Date
Display Date/Time
Display justified
Display sign leading
Display sign leading separate
Display sign trailing
Display sign trailing separate
Display Time
Magic PC Date
Magic PC Extended
Magic PC Number
Magic PC Real
Magic PC Time
Microsoft BASIC double
Microsoft BASIC float
Name
Null-terminated C string
Packed decimal
Pascal 48-bit real
Pascal string (1 byte)
Pascal string (2 bytes)
Sales Ally date
Sales Ally time-1
Text
Time
Time (minutes past midnight)
Union
Variable length IBM float
Zoned decimal
Last modified date: 08/02/2023