In the FILE SECTION, code a file description (FD) entry for the file. In the associated record description entry or entries, define the record-name and record length.
Code the logical size in bytes of the records by using the RECORD clause. Line-sequential files are stream files. Because of their character-oriented nature, the physical records are of variable length.
The following examples show how the FD entry might look for a line-sequential file:
With fixed-length records:
FILE SECTION.
FD COMMUTER-FILE
RECORD CONTAINS 80 CHARACTERS.
01 COMMUTER-RECORD.
05 COMMUTER-NUMBER PIC X(16).
05 COMMUTER-DESCRIPTION PIC X(64).
With variable-length records:
FILE SECTION.
FD COMMUTER-FILE
RECORD VARYING FROM 16 TO 80 CHARACTERS.
01 COMMUTER-RECORD.
05 COMMUTER-NUMBER PIC X(16).
05 COMMUTER-DESCRIPTION PIC X(64).
If you code the same fixed size and no OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause for any level-01 record description entries associated with the file, that fixed size is the logical record length. However, because blanks at the end of a record are not written to the file, the physical records might be of varying lengths.
related tasks
Defining line-sequential files and records in COBOL
Coding input-output statements for line-sequential files
Defining and allocating line-sequential files
related references
Data division--file description entries (Enterprise COBOL Language Reference)