If the input file was generated on another computer and the code is to be converted from ASCII into EBCDIC or vice versa, then a corresponding file option can be specified.
ASCII indicates that the current file is ASCII coded and is to be converted into EBCDIC when the current computer is using this code. The same applies when EBCDIC is specified. When file code and computer code coincide, the option is ignored.
The code is converted field by field when the input values are processed. A file containing CHAR and DECIMAL fields which was generated by a COBOL program on an EBCDIC computer, for example, can be loaded into an ASCII computer in one single run with CHAR fields (for example date specifications) being converted into ASCII, but DECIMAL fields remaining unchanged.