Fixed width format

The fixed width format is discussed.

This format has data where every field has a fixed width and for those fields where their width is less than the value, it is padded with pad characters. Every record ends with a new line character. The field width and pad character are both user configurable. This format may optionally contain a header at the top which corresponds to the properties of the business object. If the header is absent, then the order of the fields in the input data is the same as the order of properties in the business object. Typically, fixed width format contains data where every field has a different width. To enable this, the field width will be represented as a list property.

Fixed width format may be transmitted in several forms. Fixed width format may come in a stream through data bindings such as HTTP, JMS and MQ as well as files.

Fixed width format with no header and one record

This is a fixed width format with one record and does not contain a header. In this case, the business object properties have to be in the order of the fields in the data.

8A7111John~~~~~~Doe~~~~~~~80000~

The corresponding business object for the record is as follows. Note the business object property names are in order of the data in the fixed width format. Note the lastName and firstName fields.

Table 1. Business object
CustomerBO
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7111 John Doe 80000`

Fixed width format with header and one record

This is a fixed width format with one record and a header. The field width format id is 6, firstName and lastName are 10 and salary is 6 as well.

id~~~~firstName~lastName~~salary
8A7111John~~~~~~Doe~~~~~~~80000~

The corresponding business object is as follows. Note the business object property names are exactly the same as the header and their order is also the same.

Table 2. Business object
CustomerBO
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7111 John Doe 80000`

Fixed width format with multiple records and header

This is a fixed width format with multiple records and also a header.

id~~~~firstName~lastName~~salary
8A7111John~~~~~~Doe~~~~~~~80000~
8A7112Mary~~~~~~Cay~~~~~~~100000
8A7113Tom~~~~~~~Howard~~~~600000
8A7114Liz~~~~~~~Taylor~~~~700000

The corresponding business object for this fixed width format is as follows:

Table 3. Business object
CustomerWrapperBO
customers[]
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7111 John Doe 80000`
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7112 Mary Cay 100000`
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7113 Tom Howard 600000`
`id firstName lastName salary`	`8A7114 Liz Taylor 700000`

In this case, the export interface is set up with the CustomerWrapperBO as the business object not customers[ ].