RE: Externally-Described Field used as array name.

Njal,

At 8/27/01 12:05 AM +0200, you wrote:
> >   Will the ability to directly map a file format into a qualified
> > DS be one
> > of the enhancements?  Until now "EDS" using the file in question would
> > automatically populate the DS when a record is read.  Is there a
> > way to set
> > a pointer to the file buffer instead of defining a superfluous DS?


>Why would you want to do a thing like that? And make your program dependant
>on the physical implementation of how a physical file is stored.

  A common technique, if you want to manipulate an entire record in one
statement, is to define an externally defined DS, using the file name.  You
can then CLEAR, MOVE, EVAL, etc. in one fell swoop.  A qualified DS kind of
does away w/ this feature.

  -mark