Output Specifications

Output specifications describe the record and the format of fields in a program-described output file and when the record is to be written. Output specifications are optional for an externally described file. If MAIN or NOMAIN is coded on a control specification, only exception output can be done.

Output specifications are not used for all of the files in your program. For some files, you must code data structures in the result field of your output and update operatons. The following files in your program do not use Output specifications:
  • Files defined in subprocedures
  • Files defined with the QUALIFIED keyword
  • Files defined with the TEMPLATE keyword
  • Files defined with the LIKEFILE keyword
Output specifications can be divided into two categories: record identification and control (positions 7 through 51), and field description and control (positions 21 through 80). Detailed information for each category of output specifications is given in: