The Host Type parameter represents the data type representation used for this column on the host. The allowable values for Host Type that can be selected from the drop-down list box include the following:
| Host Type | Description |
|---|---|
| Binary | Fixed-length binary data (no character conversion). The length must be specified for this data type. |
| Character | Fixed-length character data. The length must be specified for this data type. |
| Date | The date represented as character data in the format yyyy-mm-dd that fits in 10 bytes. |
| DBCS - only | Fixed-length character data that contain only DBCS data. The length must be specified for this data type. |
| DCBS - Mixed Either | Fixed-length character data that can contain either DBCS or alphanumeric data. The length must be specified for this data type. |
| DCBS - Mixed Open | Fixed-length character data that can contain both DBCS and alphanumeric data. DBCS data is distinguished from alphanumeric data with shift-control characters. The length must be specified for this data type. |
| DBCS - Variable Only | Variable-length character data with a prefix of 2 bytes for length that contains only DBCS data. The maximum possible length for the column containing this data type must be specified. |
| DCBS - Variable Mixed Either | Variable-length character data with a prefix of 2 bytes for length that can contain either DBCS or alphanumeric data. The maximum possible length for the column containing this data type must be specified. |
| DCBS - Variable Mixed Open | Variable-length character data with a prefix of 2 bytes for length that can contain both DBCS and alphanumeric data. DBCS data is distinguished from alphanumeric data with shift-control characters. The maximum possible length for the column containing this data type must be specified. |
| Double | Floating-point data that fits in 8 bytes (64 bits). |
| Long | Integer data that fits in 4 bytes (32 bits). |
| Packed | Packed decimal numeric data where the precision and scale are exactly as specified. |
| Short | Integer data that fits in 2 bytes (16 bits). |
| Single | Floating-point data that fits in 4 bytes (32 bits). |
| Time | The time represented as character data in the format hh:mm:ss that fits in 8 bytes. |
| Time Stamp | Time stamp represented as characters in the format yyyy-mm-dd hh:mm:ss.ffffff that fits in 19 bytes. |
| Variable Binary | Variable-length binary data represented as an unsigned character array with prefix 2 bytes for length. The maximum possible length for the column containing this data type must be specified. |
| Variable Character | Variable-length character data with a prefix of 2 bytes for length. The maximum possible length for the column containing this data type must be specified. |
| Zoned | Zoned decimal numeric data where the precision and scale are exactly as specified. |
Note The floating-point data format assumed by the OLE DB Provider for AS/400 and VSAM depends on the host. For AS/400, the host floating-point data format is assumed to be IEEE. On mainframe hosts, floating-point data types are assumed to be in IBM floating-point formats. Since OLE DB supports the IEEE floating-point format, data conversion errors can occur when converting the extreme values of VSAM floating-point data in IBM format to IEEE floating-point data by the OLE DB provider. These conversion errors occur because the default IBM floating-point formats and the IEEE floating-point format use a different number of bits for the mantissa and exponent when representing a floating-point number.