DATA DIVISION--file description entries

In a COBOL program, the File Description (FD) Entry (or Sort File Description (SD) Entry for sort/merge files) represents the highest level of organization in the FILE SECTION. The order in which the optional clauses follow the FD or SD entry is not important.

Format 1: sequential file description entry

clause 1

clause 2

Format 2: relative or indexed file description entry

clause 1

Format 3: line-sequential file description entry

clause 1

Format 4: sort/merge file description entry

clause 1

clause 2