docs RPG Reference

Externally Described

Externally Described

For externally described files, entries on input specifications are divided into the following categories:

Record identification entries (positions 7 through 16, and 21 through 22), which identify the record (the externally described record format) to which RPG IV functions are to be added.
- Record Identification Entries
Figure 1. Externally Described Record Layout
```
*.. 1 ...+... 2 ...+... 3 ...+... 4 ...+... 5 ...+... 6 ...+... 7 ...+... 8 ...+... 9 ...+... 10
IRcdname+++....Ri..........................................................Comments++++++++++++
```
Field description entries (positions 21 through 30, 49 through 66, and 69 through 74), which describe the RPG IV functions to be added to the fields in the record. Field description entries are written on the lines following the corresponding record identification entries.
- Field Description Entries
Figure 2. Externally Described Field Layout
```
*.. 1 ...+... 2 ...+... 3 ...+... 4 ...+... 5 ...+... 6 ...+... 7 ...+... 8 ...+... 9 ...+... 10
I..............Ext-field+..................Field+++++++++L1M1..PlMnZr......Comments++++++++++++
```