PowerCenter 9.0.1 Workflow Basics Guide (English)

Row Length Handling for Fixed-Width Flat Files

For fixed-width flat files, data in a row can be shorter than the row length in the following situations:

¨ The file is fixed-width line-sequential with a carriage return or line feed that appears sooner than expected.

¨ The file is fixed-width non-line sequential, and the last line in the file is shorter than expected.

In these cases, the Integration Service reads the data but does not append any blanks to fill the remaining bytes.

The Integration Service reads subsequent fields as NULL. Fields containing repeating null characters that do not fill the entire field length are not considered NULL.

Numeric Data Handling

Sometimes, file sources contain non-numeric data in numeric columns. When the Integration Service reads nonnumeric data, it treats the row differently, depending on the source type. When the Integration Service reads nonnumeric data from numeric columns in a flat file source or an XML source, it drops the row and writes the row to the session log. When the Integration Service reads non-numeric data for numeric columns in a COBOL source, it reads a null value for the column.

Working with XML Sources

When you create a session to read data from an XML source, you can configure source properties for that session. For example, you might want to override the source file name and location in the session properties.

The following table describes the properties you can override for XML readers in a session:

XML Source Option Description

Treat Empty Content as Null

Treat empty XML components as Null. By default, the Integration Service does not output element tags for Null values. The Integration Service outputs tags for empty content.

Source File Directory Location of the Source XML file. By default, the Integration Service looks in the service process variable directory, $PMSourceFileDir.

You can enter the full path and file name. If you specify both the directory and file name in the Source

Filename field, clear the Source File Directory. The Integration Service concatenates this field with the

Source Filename field.

You can also use the $InputFileName session parameter to specify the file directory.

Source Filename Enter the file name or file name and path. Optionally, use the $InputFileName session parameter for the file name.

If you specify both the directory and file name in the Source File Directory field, clear this field. The

Integration Service concatenates this field with the Source File Directory field when it runs the session.

For example, if you have “C:\XMLdata\” in the Source File Directory field, then enter “filename.xml” in the Source Filename field. When the Integration Service begins the session, it looks for “C:\data

\filename.xml”.

Source Filetype Use to configure multiple file sources with a file list. Choose Direct or Indirect. The option indicates whether the source file contains the source data, or whether the source file contains a list of files with the same file properties. Choose Direct if the source file contains the source data. Choose Indirect if the source file contains a list of files.

When you select Indirect, the Integration Service finds the file list and reads each listed file when it runs the session.

Working with XML Sources 71