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Vijayalakshmi · Posted: Tue May 04, 2004 11:49 pm Post subject: Reading VBA file in COBOL

Hi all,

I want to read a file of Record Format VBA in COBOL program. When i try to run the program, I am getting S002 with RC=4. I want to know if this is a problem with the file. Is there any special way of handling VBA format files in the program?
Could any one please help me out in this regard?
_________________
Thanks,
Vijaya.

Brian · Beginner Joined: 12 Aug 2003 Posts: 95 Topics: 6

A VBA file will have a 4 byte RDW and a 1 byte carriage control.So your actual data would begin with column 6.

Cheer
Brian

Mervyn · Posted: Wed May 05, 2004 5:54 pm Post subject:

Vijaya, Have you used the RECORD clause in your File Description entry? You probably need to use "RECORD IS VARYING...."
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The day you stop learning the dinosaur becomes extinct

Vijayalakshmi · Posted: Sat May 08, 2004 4:36 am Post subject:

I have initialized the record before READing the file. This was increasing the LRECL internally every time by 4 bytes.
When the INITIALIZE statement was removed, it worked perfect.
Could anyone tell why this 4 bytes was added to it?
_________________
Thanks,
Vijaya.

raj051076 · Beginner Joined: 05 Dec 2002 Posts: 64 Topics: 21

That 4 byte is for RDW(RECORD DESCRIPTOR WORD), I think for a blocked file that should be BDW. Anyway i think that field contains the length information of the logical record.

If you would like to know the diff between physical and logical record please let me know
_________________
Rajib

Cogito-Ergo-Sum · Posted: Mon May 10, 2004 12:04 pm Post subject:

Would it have worked if you had initialised only the 'data' part of the file record? That is, the record contents from 6th byte onwards.
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Vijayalakshmi · Posted: Tue May 11, 2004 1:55 am Post subject:

Even if it is initialized from 6th byte, the result is the same.
After removing the INITIALIZE, each READ statement reads the content of the next line also. It is as below:

1 2...........133.......137.......255
cc 1st line .i.. 2nd line .
cc 2nd line .i.. 3rd line
cc 3rd line .i.. 4th line

The value of record length in the program is 133 and in the JCL it is 259. In the FD section, it is 255 (VBA).
Could anyone tell me what makes the difference?

Rajib,

I would be gratefule if you would provide the info about Physical and Logical record.
_________________
Thanks,
Vijaya.