Display Record Count (DSPRCDCNT) is a utility that shows the number of records in a file. This utility has some significant advantages over the method offered by OS/400.

To find out how many records are in a file using OS/400, you must use the Display File Description (DSPFD) command. The DSPFD command creates a spool file, allows you to view it, and then deletes the spool file. However, this method does not give you the ability to refresh the information on the screen. In order to do that, you must exit and then re-issue the command.

The DSPRCDCNT command does not create a spool file. Instead, it presents you with a pop-up window. Contained within the window is the file, library, and member name, as well as the number of active, deleted, and total records. The F5 key allows you to refresh the information.

This utility is useful not only for determining the number of records in a file, but also for monitoring the activity of files by watching how frequently the number of records change. It is also helpful for determining whether or not a file needs to be reorganized by analyzing the number of deleted records vs. the number of active records.

While programming this utility, I discovered a time-saving coding technique worth mentioning. When coding DDS specs for windows that are displayed over existing screens, I always used the OVRATR keyword on every output constant and valuable. What I discovered is that the OVRATR keyword can be specified at this record level saving quite a few keywords on a typical window type panel.

Display Record Count

Figure 1 Command DSPRCDCNT

 DSPRCDCNT: CMD PROMPT('Display Record Count') PARM KWD(FILE) TYPE(QUAL) PROMPT('File') PARM KWD(MBR) TYPE(*NAME) LEN(10) DFT(*FIRST) + SPCVAL((*FIRST)) PROMPT('Member') QUAL: QUAL TYPE(*NAME) LEN(10) MIN(1) QUAL TYPE(*NAME) LEN(10) DFT(*LIBL) + SPCVAL((*LIBL)) PROMPT('Library') 
 
 Display Record Count
 
 Figure 2 CL program RCD001CL
 
 RCD001CL: + PGM PARM(&FILE &MBR) DCL VAR(&FILE) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(20) DCL VAR(&LIB) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(10) DCL VAR(&MBR) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(10) DCL VAR(&ARCDS) TYPE(*DEC) LEN(10 0) DCL VAR(&DRCDS) TYPE(*DEC) LEN(10 0) DCL VAR(&MSG) TYPE(*CHAR) LEN(80) DCLF FILE(RCD001DF) MONMSG MSGID(CPF0000) EXEC(GOTO CMDLBL(ERROR)) CHGVAR VAR(&FILNAM) VALUE(%SST(&FILE 1 10)) CHGVAR VAR(&LIB) VALUE(%SST(&FILE 11 10)) LOOP: + RTVMBRD FILE(&LIB/&FILNAM) MBR(&MBR) RTNLIB(&LIBNAM) + RTNMBR(&MBRNAM) NBRCURRCD(&ARCDS) NBRDLTRCD(&DRCDS) CHGVAR VAR(&ACTRCD) VALUE(&ARCDS) CHGVAR VAR(&DLTRCD) VALUE(&DRCDS) CHGVAR VAR(&TOTRCD) VALUE(&ARCDS + &DRCDS) SNDRCVF IF COND(&IN03) THEN(GOTO CMDLBL(ENDPGM)) IF COND(&IN05 *EQ '1') THEN(GOTO CMDLBL(LOOP)) GOTO CMDLBL(ENDPGM) ERROR: + RCVMSG MSGTYPE(*ANY) MSG(&MSG) SNDPGMMSG MSG(&MSG) ENDPGM: + ENDPGM 
 
 Display Record Count
 
 Figure 3 Display file RCD001DF
 
 A DSPSIZ(24 80 *DS3) A CA03(03) A CA05(05) A R DSPDRCD A KEEP A ASSUME A OVERLAY A PUTOVR A OVRATR A 7 28' Record Count ' A DSPATR(RI) A 8 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 8 30'File....:' A FILNAM 10A O 8 40OVRDTA A 8 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 9 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 9 30'Library.:' A LIBNAM 10A O 9 40OVRDTA A 9 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 10 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 10 30'Member..:' A MBRNAM 10A O 10 40OVRDTA A 10 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 11 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 11 30'Active..:' A ACTRCD 8Y 0O 11 40EDTCDE(1) A OVRDTA A DSPATR(HI) A 11 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 12 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 12 30'Deleted.:' A DLTRCD 8Y 0O 12 40EDTCDE(1) A OVRDTA A 12 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 13 28' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 13 30'Total...:' A TOTRCD 8Y 0O 13 40EDTCDE(1) A OVRDTA A 13 51' ' A DSPATR(RI) A 14 28' F3=Exit F5=Refresh ' A DSPATR(RI)