3. COBOL files
The most common type of file is the sequential file, where items or records are arranged in the order in which they were written. In general, the order is determined by a designator (REF line 34 for the INPUT item in the FILECTU file described on lines 30 to 35).
Once a file has been created, its items can only be reread in this order, one after the other, and possibly rewritten after modification. If you wish to process the file in a different order, you must first sort it on another code (a service code, for example).
If you want to access a particular item, you have to read all the items preceding it, which can be very time-consuming for a file containing several million items. It is therefore unthinkable to use a sequential file for a transactional application with random access to records.
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference
This article is included in
Software technologies and System architectures
This offer includes:
Knowledge Base
Updated and enriched with articles validated by our scientific committees
Services
A set of exclusive tools to complement the resources
Practical Path
Operational and didactic, to guarantee the acquisition of transversal skills
Doc & Quiz
Interactive articles with quizzes, for constructive reading
COBOL files
Bibliography
Standards
- Programming language COBOL - ANSI X 3.23 - 1985
- Langages de programmation - COBOL - ISO 1989 : - 1985
- Langages de programmation - COBOL - NF EN 21989 - 1-94
Exclusive to subscribers. 97% yet to be discovered!
You do not have access to this resource.
Click here to request your free trial access!
Already subscribed? Log in!
![](/assets/images/logo-eti-286623ed91fa802ce039246e516e5852.png)
The Ultimate Scientific and Technical Reference