In the FILE SECTION of the DATA DIVISION, start a file description by using the keyword FD and the same file-name you used in the corresponding SELECT clause in the FILE-CONTROL paragraph.
DATA DIVISION.
FILE SECTION.
FD filename
01 recordname
nn . . . fieldlength & type
nn . . . fieldlength & type
. . .
In the example above, filename is also the file-name you use in the OPEN, READ, and CLOSE statements.
recordname is the name of the record used in WRITE and REWRITE statements. You can specify more than one record for a file.
fieldlength is the logical length of a field, and type specifies the format of a field. If you break the record description entry beyond level 01 in this manner, map each element accurately to the corresponding field in the record.
related references
Data relationships
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)
Level-numbers
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)
PICTURE clause
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)
USAGE clause
(COBOL for Windows Language Reference)