Dbatokey()

PURPOSE

ASCII to index key value

SYNOPSIS

#include<dbl.h>
 
	int	dbatokey(ascii, key)
 
	<input parameters>
	char 	*ascii;		/* ASCII string to be converted */
	char	*key;		/* Key type: 'D' or 'd' is for a date key, 'N' or 'n' is for a numeric key */
 
	<output parameters>
	char 	*key;		/* Address of the buffer where converted key is returned, thus "key" serves as both the input and output parameter */

RETURN VALUE

The dbatokey() function returns 0 for success. See the section on return code values for a detailed list of return codes.

DESCRIPTION

This function converts the string pointed to by ascii to the .NDX file key format. The input ASCII string should represent either a valid floating point number or a date in the following format:-

	YYYYMMDD		YYYY -	Year: '1900' through '2999'
				MM -		Month: '01' through '12'
				DD -		Day: '01' through '28'/'29'/'30'/'31'

EXAMPLE

This example converts the ASCII string "124.52" into the .NDX file key format and adds the numeric key to the index specified by "char *ndx;" with associated record number, 15.

#include "dbl.h"
 
	char	*ndx;		/* .NDX file descriptor	*/
	int	rc;			/* Return code */
	char	key[8];		/* Numeric key location */
 
	key[0] ='N';		/* Indicate numeric key */
 
	rc = dbatokey("124.52", key);
	if (rc == SUCCESS) {
		if (dbakey(ndx,key,(long)15) printf("Key added \n");
		else {
			printf("Error number %\n",rc);
			exit(1);
		}
	} else {
		printf("Error number %d \n", rc);
		exit (1);
	}

This example converts a date, 19680408 (April 8, 1968) in ASCII representation into .NDX file key format and adds the new key to the specified .NDX file with associated record number, 420.

#include "dbl.h"
 
	char	*ndx;		/* .NDX file descriptor */
	int	rc;			/* Return code */
	char	key[8];		/* Numeric key location */
 
	key[0] ='D';		/* Indicate date key */
 
	rc = dbatokey("19680408",key);
	if (rc == SUCCESS) {
		if (dbakey(ndx,key,(long) 420) && rc == SUCCESS)
			Printf("Key added \n");
		else {
			Printf("Error number %d \n", rc);
			Exit(1);
		}
	} else {
		printf("Error number %d \n", rc);
		exit (1);
	}

NOTE: The buffer to hold the converted key value ("key" in our examples) must be at least eight bytes long.

SEE ALSO

dbakey(), dbkeytoa(), dbstring(), dbstrcpy()