What does the message "DELETE" records in MS Access mean?

When opening an ODBC table with MS Access the messages "DELETE" is displayed.

Description:

For the opening of tables, MS Access always reads the primary key values and internally generates an access table with the key values.  With these values, MS Access is executing SELECT instructions with WHERE clauses. If there is something wrong with the primary key "Deleted" is indicated. The data file then is not deleted but MS Access is unable to refind the file and is giving that information.

This may occur when a COBOL picture field is not correctly filled with spaces/blanks. COBOL-sided is assumed that in a zero terminated string the field is filled up with spaces/blanks. For example: a MOVE "ABC" to an alphanumeric COBOL field PIC X(10) writes the letters "ABC" into the field and fills the last 7 digits up with 7 spaces/blanks.

ConnectWare is acting the same way if the values are transferred to the File Handler. If there are indeed no spaces/blanks in the ISAM file, MS Access is unable to locate the key value.

 

Solution:
1. Take care COBOL-sided  that the field is correctly filled with spaces/blanks or
2. Change the SQL type of the primary key from „CHAR“ into „BINARY“ when defining the columns in ConnectWare. Only then all 10 bytes will be transferred with their actual content.

Similar problems occur with USAGE DISPLAY or COMP-3 fields if these are initiated with spaces/blanks or Low Value COBOL-sided/by COBOL. In this case, the fields have to be initiated correctly with „0“ or occupied with valid values.