Example Relative File Definition

To define a relative file with a record length of 80 characters:

 file-control.
     select relfil
         assign to "relfil.dat"
         organization is relative
         access mode is random
         relative key is relfil-key.
 file section.
 fd relfil
    record contains 80 characters.
 01 recseq-fd-record  pic x(80).
   ...
 working-storage section.
 01 relfil-key        pic 9(8) comp-x.

The record key is relfil-key. When you are randomly accessing this file, there is no KEY IS field on the READ statement, the number in relfil-key determines which record is read. For sequential access, a simple READ NEXT statement gets the next record.