ILE COBOL Programmer's Guide


Types of Device Files

Before your ILE COBOL program can read or write to the devices on the system, a device description that identifies the hardware capabilities of the device to the operating system must be created when the device is configured. A device file specifies how a device can be used. By referring to a specific device file, your ILE COBOL program uses the device in the way that it is described to the system. The device file formats output data from your ILE COBOL program for presentation to the device, and formats input data from the device for presentation to your ILE COBOL program.

You use the device files listed in Table 22 to access the associated externally attached devices:

Table 22. Device files and their associated externally attached devices

Device File Associated Externally Attached Device CL commands ILE COBOL Device Name ILE COBOL Default File Name
Printer Files Provide access to printer devices and describe the format of printed output. CRTPRTF CHGPRTF OVRPRTF PRINTER FORMATFILE QPRINT
Tape Files Provide access to data files which are stored on tape devices. CRTTAPF CHGTAPF OVRTAPF TAPEFILE QTAPE
Diskette Files Provide access to data files which are stored on diskette devices. CRTDKTF CHGDKTF OVRDKTF DISKETTE QDKT
Display Files Provide access to display devices. CRTDSPF CHGDSPF OVRDSPF WORKSTATION
ICF Files Allow a program on one system to communicate with a program on another system. CRTICFF CHGICFF OVRICFF WORKSTATION

The device file contains the file description, which identifies the device to be used; it does not contain data.


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