To open a DIRECT file that is used to process a REGIONAL(1) data
set you can use either the INPUT or the UPDATE attribute. All data
transmission statements must include source keys; the DIRECT attribute
implies the KEYED attribute.
Use DIRECT UPDATE files to retrieve, add, delete, or replace
records in a REGIONAL(1) data set according to the following conventions:
- Retrieval
- All records, whether dummy or actual, are retrieved. Your
program must recognize dummy records.
- Addition
- A WRITE statement substitutes a new record for the existing
record (actual or dummy) in the region specified by the source key.
- Deletion
- The record you specify by the source key in a DELETE statement
is turned into a dummy record.
- Replacement
- The record you specify by the source key in a REWRITE statement,
whether dummy or actual, is replaced.