Blank Values In Hold Files

Hold files generated from match requests can contain blank values as the result of a one-to-many relationship between the data files. For instance, consider the following hold file generated by a match between the Active Current Status (AC) file and the Payment History (PH) file.

ssa ac:wname ph:payperiod ph:grosspay

--- -------- ----------- -----------

001-11-1111 rhino, lee 2004/07 $2,500.00

002-22-2222 monkey, pat 2004/05 $3,200.00

002-22-2222 2004/06 $3,200.00

002-22-2222 2004/07 $3,200.00

003-33-3333 bear, loren 2004/07 $1,327.20

The AC file has only one value for AC:WNAME per SSA. However, the PH file can have many values for PH:PAYPERIOD and PH:GROSSPAY per SSA. As a result of the one-to-many relationship, the hold file has blank values for AC:WNAME. To 'fill-in' the missing values, create a defined field. For example:

EMPLOYEE/A39 =

IF (AC:WNAME EQ ' ') and (SSA EQ LAST SSA) AND

(lAST AC:WNAME NE ' ') THEN LAST AC:WNAME

ELSE

IF (AC:WNAME EQ ' ') and (SSA EQ LAST SSA) AND

(LAST AC:WNAME EQ ' ') THEN LAST EMPLOYEE

ELSE AC:WNAME;

The defined field EMPLOYEE has a value for each SSA so it would be used instead of AC:WNAME to generate the final output.

SSa ac:wname EMPLOYEE ph:payperiod ph:grosspay

--- -------- -------- ------------ -----------

001-11-1111 rhino, lee RHINO, LEE 2004/07 $2,500.00

002-22-2222 monkey, pat MONKEY,PAT 2004/05 $3,200.00

002-22-2222 MONKEY,PAT 2004/06 $3,200.00

002-22-2222 MONKEY,PAT 2004/07 $3,200.00

003-33-3333 bear, loren BEAR, LOREN 2004/07 $1,327.20

For more information on matching, hold files, and defines, refer to your FOCUS documentation, or the training materials for Advanced CIRS Reporting.