COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

DATA RECORDS Clause
NOTE: The 1985 COBOL Standard classifies the DATA RECORDS clause as obsolete, so you
are advised not to use it.
Use the optional DATA RECORDS clause to enumerate the names of the records that are defined
for the file. Each data-name corresponds to one level-01 name in the record descriptions following
the file description. The existence of more than one data-name indicates the file has more than one
type of data record. These records can vary in size, format, and so on, and can be listed in any
order. All data records within a file share the same memory area.
rec-name
is the name of a record that is to follow the file definition.
Usage Considerations:
• Correspondence
Each rec-name specified in the DATA RECORDS clause must correspond to some level-01
name in the list of record description entries. Order is not important.
The converse is not true; level-01 entries can exist among the record description entries without
their names appearing in the DATA RECORDS clause.
• FILLER Keyword and the DATA RECORDS Clause
Although a record description can, except in certain circumstances, be named FILLER or have
no name at all (the implicit FILLER), the name FILLER cannot appear as a rec-name in the
DATA RECORDS clause.
LINAGE Clause
The LINAGE clause controls where data is printed on a page. Top and bottom margins and a
body area with an optional footing area within it are defined in terms of the number of lines each
has.
168 Data Division