RE: Reference files

Sherry,

Reference files were what we used on the S/38 (NOT S/36!) as surrogate data
dictionaries.  They have no impact on day-to-day operations, since they are only
referenced when creating a file from DDS that refers to them.  Their value lies
in defining the characteristics of a field in one central place, which is then
referred to from all the files that reference them.  If you need to change some
attribute of a field, for example changing date fields from 6,0 to 8,0, in
theory all you have to do is change and recreate the field reference file, then
recreate the files which reference the field, then re-compile the programs that
use them, modifying as necessary.

Dave Shaw
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