Because data is usually stored in a compact format, it can be difficult, if not impossible, to read when printed. For example, on a typical input record, there will be no blank space between fields, numeric data will sometimes be lost in leading and trailing zeros, and some data will be in unprintable format.
After processing, you will probably want to edit this data so that it is easy to read. This is bound to entail one or more of the following tasks:
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reordering the position of record fields
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inserting blanks between fields
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inserting binary zeros
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converting numeric data from unprintable to printable format
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converting data to printable hexadecimal format
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using masks or edit patterns to insert dollar signs, decimal points, slashes, and the like
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formatting the data in a record field on multiple output lines
MFX’s OUTREC processing, specified either as a control statement or as a parameter on the OUTFIL statement, can perform these and other editing functions. The OUTREC control statement is described below. Any number of the OUTREC statement’s subparameters may be specified and must be coded in the order in which the fields will appear in the reformatted record. (Note that when specified as a parameter of OUTFIL, OUTREC is coded identically as for a control statement except that the keyword FIELDS is not used.) See OUTREC Control Statement Format for the complete format of the OUTREC statement.