File Organizations |
One of the main facilities COBOL has to offer as a programming language is its built-in file handling capabilities. Files of sequential, relative and indexed organization can be handled using simple COBOL syntax. In addition, Micro Focus COBOL extends the file handling capabilities of COBOL as follows:
The Micro Focus File Handler is used, by default, to perform all COBOL I/O operations on all the standard COBOL file organizations: sequential, relative and indexed files. In addition, the file handler API is provided to enable you to call the file handler directly from your COBOL program.
A number of HTML books are provided with NetExpress which you can view via your Web Browser:
Contains explanations of the major file handling facilities provided and details on how they work, together with examples of their use. Features documented include:
Describes the different file organizations, and the structure of each COBOL file organization.
Explains the file naming conventions used, how to assign logical filenames to physical files and the concept of filename mapping.
Describes what file status codes are and how they are used.
Documents the file and record locking facilities that are available with NetExpress.
Details those features of COBOL file handling which are configurable.
Describes the file handler API and how you can use it to make direct calls to the file handler.
Describes the facilities available within NetExpress for accessing Btrieve files.
Describes the mfsort command line utility and the callable sort module.
Describes the Rebuild utility which enables you to repair corrupt indexed files and the Fix File Index.
Describes the Data File Editor, Data File Converter, and Record Layout Editor. A description of the Fix File Index is given in the Rebuild chapter.
This user guide is for COBOL programmers who are using NetExpress to create applications which need to use any of the facilities provided by Fileshare:
If your data is held in a relational database, you can use NetExpress to write COBOL applications which use embedded SQL to access your data. Accessing relational databases is described in detail in the Database Access book
If you are already familiar with a particular aspect of file handling and you are looking for a quick reminder or an example, try one of the following, provided in the NetExpress online help file (click on the Help Topics button, ensure that the Contents tab is at the front and then select Programming, File Handling and look under:
For simple, step-by-step instructions on how to accomplish a task.
For examples (usually sections of code) showing a file handling technique in use.
Or, from the main contents, look under Reference and then File Handling for reference information such as lists, tables, data structures, error messages, Compiler directives and run-time switches.
Copyright © 1998 Micro Focus Limited. All rights reserved.
This document and the proprietary marks and names
used herein are protected by international law.
File Organizations |