COBOL-ASSIGN-CLAUSE

When ASSIGNing a COBOL-internal file name to an external file (aka: DDname), the external name is prefixed with certain strings to establish the type (class) of device and record organization. The external name is also called the system name of a file, while somefile is the COBOL-internal name.

SELECT SOMEFILE ASSIGN TO CLASS-ORGANIZATION NAME.

The device classes are:

Code	Class
DA	Direct Access (mass storage)
UR	Unit Record (card reader/punch and printers)
UT	UTility (generally tape or PS disk)

The organisation could have the following values:

Code	Organization type	Valid for Classes
S	standard sequential	DA, UR, UT
D	direct access	DA
R	relative access	DA
I	ISAM (Indexed Sequential Access Method)	DA

Weblinks

• Cobol Select and Assign, Turnkey-MVS Group archive