IBM Mainframe Forum

by **macnano** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 5:18 am

I need to read a vsam file with alternate index. Both the base file and alternate index file have DDs in the JCL.
1. do I need a select statement for the alternate aix file or just the base file and indicate the alternate key?
2. If I need to have a select statement for the alternate aix file, should the START statement on the alternate aix > alternate key?
3. If #1 is no, should the START statement on the base file where key > alternate key which is defined in the select statement?
4. Should the READ NEXT be the base file or the alternate aix file?

Thank you.

by **Robert Sample** » Fri Mar 01, 2013 6:31 am

You have the base VSAM file for one DD statement, and the PATH (not the alternate index) specified for the second DD statement, right?

Select all

SELECT VSAM-FILE ASSIGN TO DDA
ORGANIZATION INDEXED
ACCESS RANDOM
RECORD KEY IS VF-KEY
ALTERNATE RECORD KEY IS VF-ALT-KEY
FILE STATUS IS VF-STAT

followed by

Select all

READ VSAM-FILE
KEY IS VF-ALT-KEY

or

Select all

READ VSAM-FILE
KEY IS VF-KEY

and

Select all

READ VSAM-FILE NEXT

VF-KEY and VF-ALT-KEY must be defined in an 01 under the FD; there are some other restrictions which you can read in the COBOL Language Reference manual (link at the top of the page).

IBM Mainframe Forum

Read vsam using the alternate index

Read vsam using the alternate index

Re: Read vsam using the alternate index