The entries that you can use in the FILE SECTION are summarized in the table below.
| Clause | To define |
|---|---|
| FD | The file-name to be referred to in PROCEDURE DIVISION input-output statements (OPEN, CLOSE, READ, START, and DELETE). Must match file-name in the SELECT clause. file-name is associated with the system file through the assignment-name. |
| RECORD CONTAINS n | Size of logical records (fixed length). Integer size indicates the number of bytes in a record regardless of the USAGE of the data items in the record. |
| RECORD IS VARYING | Size of logical records (variable length). If integer size or sizes are specified, they indicate the number of bytes in a record regardless of the USAGE of the data items in the record. |
| RECORD CONTAINS n TO m | Size of logical records (variable length). The integer sizes indicate the number of bytes in a record regardless of the USAGE of the data items in the record. |
| VALUE OF | An item in the label records associated with file. Comments only. |
| DATA RECORDS | Names of records associated with file. Comments only. |
| RECORDING MODE | Record type for sequential files |
related references
File section
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)