Can we use file operations in a cobol subroutine

Ganesh Kalam · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 45 Location: India

Hi,

I have a cobol program which calls around 20 subroutines internally.
Each subroutine has some ims calls to read the data from ims database.

I have to remove all the calls and read the data from flat files.
To accomplish this, is it possible to define file operations in subroutines.

Thank you

William Thompson · Posted: Thu Mar 29, 2007 12:53 pm

Yes, it is possible to define file operations in subroutines.

dick scherrer · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 12:12 am

Hello,

If you called modules are going to be invoked more than once per run, you will have to consider open and close of the files read in the called modules.

Ganesh Kalam · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 45 Location: India

Shall we pass the file name as parameter to the subroutine. What ever file we are using in the subroutine, should we declare the same in the main program.

Can you please explain how you achieve this.

William Thompson · Posted: Fri Mar 30, 2007 10:43 pm

Only one definition per program, you must realize that those definitions are actually data holders for the status and condition of the open file, you can't have two opened at the same time.

dick scherrer · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 1:34 am

Hello,

Before you start coding, i'd suggest thinking through what you need to do and how you will accomplish it.

When the "main" program calls a sub-program, it will have to at least provide the "key" to read in the sub-program (unless the whole file will be read each time the sub-program is called - much overhead). The main program may also need to tell the sub-program if this is the first call, a "read" call or and "end" call to properly handle open/close.

Is there some reason that these must be flat files? Is there some way to coordinate between the modules as to where the called module should "start" and "end" for each call? How many records will there be in these converted files?

If you post a more detailed description of your requirement (including what a few of the "ims going flat" files are, we will be able to offer better suggestions.

Ganesh Kalam · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 45 Location: India

The reason for using flat files instead of relational database is just to reduce performance issues and time. But this is a temporary solution.

These files may consists of atleast 10000 records.

Bill, "Only one definition per program" .. I could not get you. Do you mean to say that we can use only one file in the sub-program. Cant we declare two or more files.

Dick, till now these sub-programs are there to handle IMS Database segments. So the main program is passing the PCBs as parameters.

The requirement is , Some of the IMS databases will be removed. So we have to take the corresponding data from flat files and the remaining data from existing IMS databases.

So my sub-program should be able to handle both IMS calls as well as file operations.

What should i do in this scenario ? Can i declare the file in the main program, pass it as parameter to subprogram along with PCBs. (or) Can i declare the files in the sub-program alone without taking them from main program ( i doubt this solution )

Can i use all file operations (open,read,write,close) in the same sub-program.

Can you suggest , whatever i am doing to replace IMS Databases is a better solution keeping the performance and time constraints in mind.
Can you advice if you have any other better solution.

If this information is not sufficient or if you need more details ..please let me know..

Thanks in advance

William Thompson · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 2:56 am

dick scherrer · Posted: Sat Mar 31, 2007 3:22 am

Hello,

Yes, you can use open/close/read/write in sub-programs, but if they will be called multiple times, you must consider when to open/close them.

Well, if you have 10000 records in a flat file and the record you want are at 5000, that is a lot of overhead - especially if the main program called this one sub-program thousands of times.

Just thinking out loud, would not keyed vsam files let you access what you want directly?

mmwife · Super Moderator Joined: 30 May 2003 Posts: 1592

Hi Ganesh,

You may want to take a look at the EXTERNAL feature of COBOL. It looks like it's designed to do the kinds of things you need to do.

Ganesh Kalam · New User Joined: 11 Aug 2005 Posts: 45 Location: India

Jack,

I will check whether EXTERNAL clause will be helpful in this situation.

Dick/Bill,

My input file consists of different record types. I cannot consider one particular field as key. I think we cannot use VSAM files in this situation.

Please let me know your thoughts on this

Thanks and Regards

dick scherrer · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:18 am

Hello,

Different record types sounds like a common variable length situation - or even fixed length with different "types".

How are they accessed in IMS?

I guess i'm confused on just what the called modules do when called. If you will describe one of the typical processes from the calling code perspective and what the called code does with IMS, we may be better able to offer suggestions. If you post functional pseudo-code we should be able to better understand the requirement.

Does each call cause a whole file to be processed? Is each called program a process that could stand alone or does the caller provide information that controls the processing of the called module?

William Thompson · Posted: Mon Apr 02, 2007 4:27 am