X-ray investigations were performed on 4-hexylphenyl 4-cyanobenzoyloxybenzoate (DB6CN) and on 4-heptyloxyphenyl 4-cyanobenzoyloxybenzoate (DB7OCN). For both compounds, the smectic A2structure is observed. From the small angle meridional reflections, the angular distribution of the smectic units around the normal to the smectic layers and the longitudinal correlation length were studied. The orientational order parameter is calculated from the wide angle equatorial reflections. Based on the assumption of a layer structure with undulation in the liquid crystalline smectic A phase, the relationship between the dimensionless parameters χch/dL (correlation length/thickness of the smectic layer) and FWHM/2θ0(full width at the half maximum/maximum point of the scattering peak) is simulated.