Re: Externally Defined Files

["Jim Essinger" <dilbernator@xxxxxxxxx>]

Robert,
You can use the COPY statement to get the names you want.  For example when
you code the following;

COPY DDR-format-name

You will get the alias names for the fields, with some characters replaced
(see the manual quoted below).  The underscore ( _ ) will be translated to a
dash ( - ) is the one I used the most.  Sometimes I use the PREFIX BY phrase
if the file specs were used more than one place in the program.  For
example, if I were to use the COPY statement to hold values in working
storage I might do the following;

COPY DDR-format-name prefix by "WS-"

This will put a WS- on the front of each field from that format.  I use this
to hold an entire record in working storage to compare prior to update in
some cases.  The field definitions would be prefixed by "FD-" or by nothing,
depending on your needs.

HTH

Jim

> From the V5R4 COBOL Reference manual

"The DDR Option: The DDR option or the SUBSTITUTE option does everything
that the DD option does. It also replaces the invalid COBOL characters @, #,
$, and _ in a field name (or alias name, if applicable) with the
corresponding valid COBOL characters A, N, D, and -. As well, it removes
underscores from the end of a field name."


On Tue, Jun 24, 2008 at 9:35 AM, Robert Munday <rwmunday@xxxxxxxxxxxxx>
wrote:

> Greetings from South Carolina.
>
> I am adding a file to a program and thought it would be great if I could
> define my file with the external fields defined with ALIAS data names.  I
> was trying to avoid creating needless duplicate input specs and thought I
> could rely on the external definitions.  That appears not to be working out
> for me.
>
> Are the fields in an externally-described file good for anything inside my
> COBOL program?  Will I end up having to create input specs and copy my
> format into those specs?  Surely there must be an easier way.
>
> I'd like to solve this one and turn in a completed program before my gig
> ends on Friday.
>
>
>
> Thanks,
>
>
> Robert Munday
> Munday Software Consultants
> Montgomery, AL
> on assignment in Columbia, SC
> soon to be somewhere else...