ILE RPG Programmer's Guide
Using Overflow Indicators in Program-Described Files
An overflow indicator (OA through OG, OV) is set on when the last
line on a page has been printed or passed. An overflow indicator can
be used to specify the lines to be printed on the next page. Overflow
indicators can be specified only for program-described PRINTER files
and are used primarily to condition the printing of heading lines.
An overflow indicator is specified using the keyword OFLIND on the
file description specifications and can be used to condition operations
in the calculation specifications (positions 9 through 11) and output
specifications (positions 21 through 29). If an overflow indicator
is not specified, the compiler assigns the first unused overflow indicator
to the PRINTER file. Overflow indicators can also be specified as
resulting indicators on the calculation specifications (positions
71 through 76).
The compiler sets on an overflow indicator only the first time
an overflow condition occurs on a page. An overflow condition exists
whenever one of the following occurs:
- A line is printed past the overflow line.
- The overflow line is passed during a space operation.
- The overflow line is passed during a skip operation.
Table 50 shows the results of the presence or absence
of an overflow indicator on the file description and output specifications.
The following considerations apply to overflow indicators used
on the output specifications:
- Spacing past the overflow line sets the overflow indicator on.
- Skipping past the overflow line to any line on the same page sets
the overflow indicator on.
- Skipping past the overflow line to any line on the new page does
not set the overflow indicator on unless a skip-to is specified past
the specified overflow line.
- A skip to a new page specified on a line not conditioned by an
overflow indicator sets the overflow indicator off after the forms
advance to a new page.
- If you specify a skip to a new line and the printer is currently
on that line, a skip does not occur. The overflow indicator is set
to off, unless the line is past the overflow line.
- When an OR line is specified for an output print record, the space
and skip entries of the preceding line are used. If they differ from
the preceding line, enter space and skip entries on the OR line.
- Control level indicators can be used with an overflow indicator
so that each page contains information from only one control group.
See Figure 185.
- For conditioning an overflow line, an overflow indicator can appear
in either an AND or an OR relationship. For an AND relationship, the
overflow indicator must appear on the main specification line for
that line to be considered an overflow line. For an OR relationship,
the overflow indicator can be specified on either the main specification
line or the OR line. Only one overflow indicator can be associated
with one group of output indicators. For an OR relationship, only
the conditioning indicators on the specification line where an overflow
indicator is specified is used for the conditioning of the overflow
line.
- If an overflow indicator is used on an AND line, the line is not an overflow line. In this case, the overflow
indicator is treated like any other output indicator.
- When the overflow indicator is used in an AND relationship with
a record identifying indicator, unusual results are often obtained
because the record type might not be the one read when overflow occurred.
Therefore, the record identifying indicator is not on, and all lines
conditioned by both overflow and record identifying indicators do
not print.
- An overflow indicator conditions an exception line (E in position
17), and conditions fields within the exception record.
Table 50. Results of the Presence or Absence of an Overflow Indicator
| File Description Specifications Positions
44-80 |
Output Specifications Positions 21-29 |
Action |
| No entry |
No entry |
First unused overflow indicator used
to condition skip to next page at overflow. |
| No entry |
Entry |
Error at compile time; overflow indicator
dropped from output specifications. First unused overflow indicator
used to condition skip to next page at overflow. |
| OFLIND (indicator) |
No entry |
Continuous printing; no overflow
recognized. |
| OFLIND (indicator) |
Entry |
Processes normal overflow. |
[ Top of Page | Previous Page | Next Page | Contents |
Index ]