Date:         Sun, 13 Jan 2008 13:17:32 +0200
Reply-To:     nina <sas@MAILINATOR.COM>
Sender:       "SAS(r) Discussion" <SAS-L@LISTSERV.UGA.EDU>
From:         nina <sas@MAILINATOR.COM>
Subject:      reading mainframe file or ftp transfer to pc?
Comments: To: sas-l@uga.edu
Content-Type: text/plain; format=flowed; charset="iso-8859-1";
              reply-type=original

have come across something unusual in attempting to read a mainframe GDG file.

if I do a data step (..infile ftp...) and transfer the file, maintaining precise file
attributes (lrecl, recfm), to my local pc, it appears I can not correctly read the
packed fields of the variable length file

however, if I read the file on the mainframe, running a short batch job, I can read
the file just fine.

why might I have difficulties doing an ftp to my pc and reading it there?

in case it matters, my data step is basically doing an input; put _infile_, so it
should copy precisely the file over to the pc but once there, none of the fields map
the same way they do on the mainframe side.