DDS concepts

DDS syntax for a physical file



Syntax for a Physical File. An illustration of a DDS coding form that describes a physical file.

(1)
Comments (optional): Comments can appear on any line in DDS. They are identified by an asterisk in position 7.

(2)
File level (optional): File-level keywords appear before the record format name (RECORD on line 00040).

(3)
Record level (only one record is allowed in physical files): R in position 17 identifies RECORD as a record format name. The record level continues until the first field is named.

(4)
Field level (at least one field name is required, unless the FORMAT keyword is specified on the record): For fields in physical files, specify at least a name and length. Other attributes can be specified explicitly or by default.

(5)
Key field level (optional): K in position 17 identifies the field as a key field. A K must be specified for each key field. Specify the key field level by repeating a field name (here, FIELDA) after the field-level specifications.


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