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Chapter 1: Introduction

1.1 Overview

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:

1.2 Micro Focus File Handler

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.

1.3 File Handling Documentation

1.3.1 Online Books

A number of HTML books are provided with NetExpress which you can view via your Web Browser:

1.3.2 Online Help

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:

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.
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