Specifying a Record Identifier

webMethods 10.2 | Service Development Help | Working with Flat Files | Creating Flat File Schemas | Specifying a Record Identifier

When parsing a file, Integration Server looks at a record and extracts an identifier out of the data. The server uses that identifier to connect the record definition in a flat file schema with a particular record in the flat file. The name of the record definition must match the value obtained by the record identifier. You can choose from one of two methods of record identification:

Starts at position record identifiers compare the value that occurs in the record, at the specified offset, to all the record names defined in the flat file schema. Note that the Starts at position identifier cannot distinguish between all types of record names. For example, if you name records “Rec1” and “Rec,” some instances of “Rec1” may be identified as “Rec,” because “Rec1” begins with “Rec.”

Nth Field record identifiers use the value of the specified field as the record identifier. These identifiers count from zero (0). For example, if 2 is specified, the third field is used as the record identifier.

To set the record identifier for a schema definition

1. In Package Navigator view, double-click the flat file schema that you want to configure. The flat file schema opens in the flat file schema editor window.

2. In the Record identifier area, set the record identifier to one of the following values:

Value	Description
Starts at position	Identifies the character position in the record (counting from zero) where the record identifier is located.
NthField	Identifies the field in the record (counting from zero) that contains the identifier.

3. Next, define the structure for the flat file schema. For instructions, see Defining the Schema Structure.