RE: File keyed on a date field: the read doesn't actually get anything! What am I doing wrong?

Per your update, JAN31 = D'2017-01-31'

Stupid question, but are there any records with a SMLASTDATE date earlier than D'2017-01-31'?

- Dan Bale

-----Original Message-----
From: RPG400-L <rpg400-l-bounces-+hD5IHI5Xscn3HwCXmMcX9BPR1lH4CV8@public.gmane.org> On Behalf Of James H. H. Lampert via RPG400-L
Sent: Wednesday, January 7, 2026 3:27 PM
To: RPG programming on the IBM i / System i <[email protected]>
Cc: James H. H. Lampert <jamesl-6/ELSmrcqeUu8xhjR5IN5AC/[email protected]>
Subject: File keyed on a date field: the read doesn't actually get anything! What am I doing wrong?

In my current project, I've got a file, keyed on a date field:

      R SLSMONTHR
        SMLASTDATE      L
        SMCARRYOVR      L
        SMMONTH        2S
        SMYEAR         4S
        SM_OK          1A
        SM_ID         15S 0
      K SMLASTDATE

And I'm trying to read it:
   D JAN31           S               D
   . . .
   C     JAN31         SETLL     SLSMONTHS
   C                   READP     SLSMONTHS

But running it in the debugger, after the read, there's nothing in any of the file fields. I've tried the PF with its ascending key on SMLASTDATE; I've tried an LF with a descending key on SMLASTDATE. I've tried SETLL and SETGT. None of this changes anything.

--
JHHL

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