The CONVERT parameter enables you to convert variable-length records into fixed-length records.
These records do not require an RDW and will be written to any output file(s) with a RECFM of F or FB. When using CONVERT, you no longer need to apply the rules for “Specifying the FIELDS parameter for Variable-Length Records.”
You cannot specify the variable portion of the input records (position without length) when using CONVERT. However, all data fields need not be present in each record being CONVERTed, unless a numeric or year data field is specified. That is, blanks will be used as a default for any missing p,l field bytes, while all p,l,f fields must be present.
When using CONVERT in conjunction with the OUTREC parameter on the OUTFIL control statement, data fields of any type need not be present, and you may change the default padding character with the VLFILL parameter. (See the explanations of CONVERT and VLFILL in the OUTFIL control statement section.)
You may also create multiple output files with different record formats when specifying CONVERT on the OUTFIL control statement.