Fixed-width format provides an iWay data structuring strategy for handling record-delimited text (a file that contains record-delimited text is called a flat file). The Fixed-Width Dictionary represents the record layout and metadata of a fixed-width document.

In a fixed-width document, fixed-width records are organized into fixed-width columns. The following image shows a sample fixed-width document.

The record layout and metadata are defined in the Fixed-Width Dictionary.

The record layout and metadata are organized in the Structure component. The following image shows the basic layout of the fixed-width Structure component.

The layout of the Structure component has the following items.

• Record Header. Optional. Contains the general file metadata.

• Record Details. Contains the layout of the records within the data file.

• Loop. Contains the data and criteria necessary to execute a loop.

• Record Type. Contains the type of information that is passed through the loop.

• Column. Contains data for the column, as well as column settings.

The following table summarizes the characteristics of the fixed-width format node type.