TECH TIP - CMS WINDOWS
USING UTICMS TO REMOVE A BLANK RECORD
 for the Reporting to the MAX

 


Sometimes a blank record is inserted into a data file, causing (typically) a 910 error.  This blank record is most commonly at the very bottom or very top of the file, making it easy to both find and delete.  

The conversion process from DOS to WIN may also create some blank records.  The most likely places for this to happen would be the module master file and the history file.

As with any non-standard activity, a copy of the file should be made or an extra backup made just prior using any of these special techniques.   In addition, a control report, trial balance or other such balancing report should be run before and after using any of these advanced solutions.    (gps)

Using UTICMS, open the file in question.  

 

 

 

Locate the blank row (again usually the first or last row).  If the blank records are hard to find, use the sort feature by any of the data fields.  Then highlight the Record Number.  

  A blank record is considered to be any row that has only a Record Number, or only a Record Number and incomplete or corrupted data in the rest of the row.

Using UTICMS, open the file in question.  Locate the blank row (again usually the first or last row), and highlight the Record Number.  Then select Record and Delete/Undelete.  Notice that the Record Number is now followed by an asterisk (*).  The asterisk indicates that this record will be ignored by any report or by any program code that would normally be looking at the file.  At this point, you can toggle between Delete and Undelete to either ignore or use the data in the row.

 

 

 

 

 

Once you have located and flagged all blank rows, pack the files to physically remove the rows from the data file.  Select File and Pack to do this.  Once you have packed, the blank rows are gone and you can no longer toggle between Delete and Undelete on the blank row.


Then select Record and Delete/Undelete.  Notice that the Record Number is now followed by an asterisk (*).  The asterisk indicates that this record will be ignored by any report or by any program code that would normally be looking at the file.  At this point, you can toggle between Delete and Undelete to either ignore or use the data in the row.

 

Once you have located and flagged all blank rows, pack the files to physically remove the rows from the data file.  Select File and Pack to do this.  Once you have packed, the blank rows are gone and you can no longer toggle between Delete and Undelete on the blank row.

 


After using the UTICMS program, you should use the Re-index the files in the module, Options, File Maintenance, Select All to re-index the files.   You should review the Status column for errors.  

Based on contribution by Kay Cook, Information Advantage

ALTERNATE TECHNIQUES 1:
  • COPY REBUILD FILE USING DX
  • USE COPY MASTERFILE FROM ANOTHER COMPANY CODE 
     
ALTERNATE TECHNIQUES 2:

 

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(We are not Cougar Mountain Software in Boise, we take their excellent product and make it better.   We offer software products, enhanced reports, services, training and hardware that maximize the value out of this powerful accounting program.  We have been customizing solutions for Cougar Mountain since 1990.  We are located in California.