Obtaining File-Handle Information

PSS ID Number: Q10148
Article last modified on 11-16-1992

1.07 1.10 1.12
MS-DOS

Question:
   Is it possible to obtain the COBOL file handle in COBOL Version
1.x? If so, how is it done?

Response:
   Under COBOL Version 1.12, no file handles are used. You can use
FCBs (File Control Blocks), which are the MS-DOS Version 1.x methods
of handling files.
   Under COBOL Version 2.00, you can use file handles for your files;
however, they are not available to the COBOL programmer. The COBOL
program uses the filename, and it is converted into a file handle. If
you want to get a file handle for a file not used by COBOL, it is
necessary to write an assembly-language subroutine.

Copyright Microsoft Corporation 1992.