FIXEDVARCHAR

In either case, the field type is still VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, or VARBINARY. If you want any other field type, specify CHARACTER( n) as the field data type.

NO

FIXEDVARCHAR NO is the default and indicates that VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, and VARBINARY columns are unloaded as variable-length fields without any padding before the beginning of the next field.

Restriction

If you specify FORMAT DSNTIAUL, UNLOAD PLUS overrides FIXEDVARCHAR NO to YES.

YES

When you specify FIXEDVARCHAR YES, UNLOAD PLUS performs the following actions:

• Unloads VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, and VARBINARY columns as fixed-length VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, and VARBINARY fields (unless you explicitly specify a field type)

  A fixed-length VARCHAR, VARGRAPHIC, or VARBINARY field has a length equal to the maximum length of the column + 2. The actual length specification of the column remains unchanged.

• Sets any unused bytes in the field (after the value and before the beginning of the next field) to blanks (VARCHAR and VARGRAPHIC) or hexadecimal zeros (VARBINARY)

• Sets the record format for the unload data set to FB

  Exception: If you specify RECFM VB on your UNLOAD command (or it is in effect by default), UNLOAD PLUS uses variable block format for the data set records.

Restrictions

Note the following restrictions when specifying FIXEDVARCHAR YES:

• UNLOAD PLUS does not change the 2-byte length indicator when you specify FIXEDVARCHAR YES. If you plan to load the unloaded data, use the control statements that UNLOAD PLUS generates to ensure proper table loading. Otherwise, UNLOAD PLUS might load incorrect or truncated data.
• If you specify FIXEDVARCHAR YES with FORMAT BMCLOAD, UNLOAD PLUS terminates.
• If you are unloading LOB or XML data, UNLOAD PLUS ignores this option for either of the following types of output data sets:
  • Referenced files
  • VBS data sets when you specify SPANNED YES