5.4.1 File Description Entry

A file description entry describes the physical structure, identification, and record names for a program's data files.

General Format

FD file-name [IS EXTERNAL] [IS GLOBAL]

   [BLOCK CONTAINS [min TO] max  {RECORDS   } ]

                                 {CHARACTERS}

   [RECORD { CONTAINS [min TO] max CHARACTERS  } ]

           { IS VARYING IN SIZE [ FROM min ]   }

           {   [ TO max ] CHARACTERS           }

           {   [ DEPENDING ON depend ]         }

   [ LABEL  { RECORD IS   }  {STANDARD} ]

            { RECORDS ARE }  {OMITTED }



   [ VALUE OF LABEL IS label-lit ]

   [ VALUE OF { FILE-ID } IS id-name ]

              { ID      }

   [ CODE-SET IS alphabet ]

   [ DATA  { RECORD IS   }  {record-name} ... ]

           { RECORDS ARE }

   [ LINAGE IS page-size LINES



     [ WITH FOOTING AT footing-line ]



     [ LINES AT TOP top-lines ]

     [ LINES AT BOTTOM bottom-lines ] ] .

Syntax Rules

1. File-name must refer to a file name contained in a SELECT clause in the Environment Division.

2. The clause IS EXTERNAL must immediately follow the file-name in each program that declares the file.

3. An external file must have the same file-name in each COBOL program that declares it, and must be described the same way in each program.

4. The other clauses following file-name can appear in any order.

5. One or more record description entries must follow a file description entry.

6. The LINAGE phrase may be specified only for an FD associated with a sequential file.

General Rules

1. The file description entry clauses are described separately in the following sections.