R: Setting File pointer using Partial Keys

This is exactly what START does. In an AS/400 fashion:
initialize key-a key-b key-c
move  Dept to key-a
START  EmpFile  Key NOT LESS  externally-described-key

You will get a 23 if no "Dept" exists, otherwise issuing a READ NEXT will
get the first record having "Dept" in its key.
Sincerely.
Domenico Finucci
Fiditalia , Milano, 02- 4301-2494


-----Messaggio originale-----
Da: Ravi Prasanna Annasagara Nagarajan
[mailto:ravi.annasagara@wipro.com]
Inviato: venerdì 6 settembre 2002 10.43
A: cobol400-l@midrange.com
Oggetto: Setting File pointer using Partial Keys


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Hello,

Using Start statement, can we position the file pointer if we have
values for a part of the key.

For example

If an Employee file has 3 keys say Dept number, Section number and
Employee number, using just the Dept number can we position the file at
the specified Dept number even though Section number and Employee number
are not specified?


Move 10 to Dept-number

Start Employee File
 Key is equal to Dept-number
 Invalid key
  -----
Not invalid key
 -----
End-Start.


I have tried this but it seems to fail.  In RPG, we can actually do a
Chain to the file with partial keys, so is there a provision for that in
Cobol?

Any thoughts on this issue would be very helpful?

Many thanks in advance.


Regards,
Ravi Prasanna A.N.
Wipro Technologies Ltd.,
mailto:ravi.annasagara@wipro.com

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