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vallishar · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 6:31 pm Post subject: Files in online programs

Hi

I would like to know whether it is possible to use flat files, to read or to write into, in an online CICS program.

regards
Vallish
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kolusu · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 7:04 pm Post subject:

Vallishar,

You can not use a QSAM files in CICS.The only type of files that can be used in CICS are VSAM,IAM,BDAM files as they are all random access type.

But CICS has Transient Data Queues(TDQ's) which provides a convenient way to use simple sequential files called destinations. Whenever a record is written to a destination it is added to the end. A task reads the first from destination, which gets deleted.

Hope this helps...

kolusu

RonB · Posted: Thu Jan 02, 2003 7:49 pm Post subject:

Minor point. Not all VSAM files are "RANDOM ACCESS TYPE". CICS also supports ESDS files, and they are of a SEQUENTIAL ACCESS TYPE. Not to mention, of course that you can access KSDS files sequentially following a START BROWSE.

Ron