To set up a message, you run the MSGSETUP utility, and define the fields that compose the message. This specifies the mapping and conversion between the internal and external representations. You can define the following setup features:
You can include database and local fields and fixed strings of characters in your message
Fields can be fixed length or variable length. If variable length fields are used, you can specify the delimiter to identify the end of the data in the field
You can specify character fields, number fields, and date and time field types, in ASCII, EBCDIC or Binary formats
Once you have completed the message setup, you compile the parameters. Your message definition is stored as a parameter set in the base dictionary of the database. You can test the parameters, and export them to other databases using the message utility MSGUTIL.