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Read or write RECFM=U datasets from COBOL

PostPosted: Tue Nov 13, 2007 11:59 pm
by Tzadik Vanderhoof
Hi there... this is my first post!

Is there any way to read or write RECFM=U datasets from COBOL? I can't find any info about it in my COBOL book or online.

Re: RECFM=U

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:08 am
by dick scherrer
Hello Tzadik and welcome to the forums,

What data do you want to read that is recfm=u? This is mostly used for loadlib members and some proprietary uses (which have supporting utility code.

Re: RECFM=U

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 1:50 am
by CICS Guy
Tzadik Vanderhoof wrote:Is there any way to read or write RECFM=U datasets from COBOL? I can't find any info about it in my COBOL book or online.
Yes, just specify Recording Mode U (Fixed or Variable). The records can be either fixed-length or variable-length. However, there is only one record for each block. There are no record-length or block-descriptor fields.

Re: RECFM=U

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 3:22 am
by Tzadik Vanderhoof
Thanks... it's for processing a binary file received via FTP

Re: RECFM=U

PostPosted: Wed Nov 14, 2007 6:55 am
by dick scherrer
Hello,

How was the binary file created?

If the source of the data was unix or win-based, you may have more "opportunities" than simply reading the file.