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[pmsteam]

Hi,

We have ESDS file. We need to read the records randomly from it. We need to do it in COBOL.
I thought of doing it by RBA but i have read few post in here which say that it is not possible in COBOL. Is their any other way to read a ESDS file randomly in COBOL?

If yes can some one please give me the code for it.



Thanks,

PMSteam

[warp5]

Why even try? That is what KSDS or RRDS is for.

[Mike Chantrey]

If you absolutely have to do this, I think you may have to code an assembler subroutine.

[pmsteam]

Thanks for your sugestions.

Can you please tell me how I can use this assembler code in COBOL.

And can I user altternate index and BLDINDEX commands to craete index for the existing file and then read it randomly using index?

Thanks

PMSTEAM

[warp5]

pmsteam, when you talk about alternate index and bldindex you are not talking about an esds anymore. Instead you are talking about a KSDS dataset. You will have to define a ksds dataset, sort your esds dataset according to the key you want to use, and fill the ksds set with the sorted data. You can also define an alternate index and path, build the alternate index with bldindex, and then read the dataset randomly using the alternate index or primary index (do not forget to have a DD for the path if using alternate index). You do not need assembler at all to do all of this. Please look at the manuals and other threads about this subject.

[neilxt]

[Cogito-Ergo-Sum]

Maybe, this would help.

Reading ESDS files randomly using COBOL II
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When you have eliminated all which is impossible, then whatever remains, however improbable, must be the truth.
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