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1) Create DDS source code for the file. &nbsp;Traditionally, DDS source is stored in a source physical file called "QDDSSRC", though you can name yours anything you like.<br><br>2) Compile the file using CRTPF command.<br><br>You can also create a "flat file" without DDS source and only one field the same length as the record by just specifying a record length.<br><br>IBM provides comprehensive documentation: &nbsp;<a href="https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.2?topic=programming-setting-up-database-files" rel="ugc">https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.2?topic=programming-setting-up-database-files</a>
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1) Create DDS source code for the file.  Traditionally, DDS source is stored in a source physical file called "QDDSSRC", though you can name yours anything you like.

2) Compile the file using CRTPF command.

You can also create a "flat file" without DDS source and only one field the same length as the record by just specifying a record length.

IBM provides comprehensive documentation:  https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.2?topic=programming-setting-up-database-files [https://www.ibm.com/docs/en/i/7.2?topic=programming-setting-up-database-files]

kenfcamp

Data Analyst

mustish1

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Theo brings up a good point: &nbsp;SQL is a much better way to create a physical file than DDS. &nbsp;DDS is a lagacy tool, and doesn't support all the reatures supported by SQL-defined physical files.<br><br>You can create physical files (which are the same thing as DB2 tables in IBM i) using the IBM i Navigator "Run SQL" interface. &nbsp;Then you just use a DB2 SQL "CREATE TABLE" statement - a much more familiar interface for a lot of programmers from other platforms than IBM i DDS.
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Theo brings up a good point:  SQL is a much better way to create a physical file than DDS.  DDS is a lagacy tool, and doesn't support all the reatures supported by SQL-defined physical files.

You can create physical files (which are the same thing as DB2 tables in IBM i) using the IBM i Navigator "Run SQL" interface.  Then you just use a DB2 SQL "CREATE TABLE" statement - a much more familiar interface for a lot of programmers from other platforms than IBM i DDS.

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<p>How do I create a physical file?</p><p><a href="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2022/04_w18/1593309/1651331889635.png" rel="ugc"><img src="https://filedb.experts-exchange.com/incoming/2022/04_w18/1593309/1651331889635.png" class="fr-fic fr-dib"></a><br></p>
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1651331889635.png

Physical File

IBM i, formerly known as AS/400, is a proprietary, midrange, object-based operating and application system. It includes a relational database, a menu-driven interface, support for multiple users, block-oriented terminal support and printers, and supports security, communications, and web-based application servers including Websphere, Apache and Tomcat.