Rational Developer for System z
PL/I for Windows, Version 8.0, Programming Guide

Records

A record is the unit of data transmitted to and from a program. You can specify the length of records in the RECSIZE option for any of the following:

Except for certain stream files, where defaults are applied, you must specify the RECSIZE option when your PL/I program creates a data set. For more information about stream files, see Defining and using consecutive data sets.

You must also specify the RECSIZE option when your program accesses a data set that was not created by PL/I.

Please note that an editor might alter a data set implicitly. You should use special caution if you examine a non CR - LF file using an editor, because most editors automatically insert CR - LF or similar character sequences.

Rational Developer for System z
PL/I for Windows, Version 8.0, Programming Guide