Program Basics
In general, an Easytrieve program can accept multiple input files (SAM/ISAM/VSAM), read databases (TMF/ADABAS/DB2/IDMS), perform file manipulation (read/write/sort), process data (alphanumeric/numeric/packed/binary), and invoke COBOL and Assembler programs.
Easytrieve syntax is a combination of the COBOL and BASIC programming languages and is meant to be easy to use by non-programmers. As an interpreted language it can represent a risk in that exposed source may be modified. In some shops, the source is subsequently translated into COBOL for compilation.
A typical Easytrieve program has three sections: Environment Definition, Library, and Activity Definition. The Environment Definition section is used to specify operating parameters and modes for the program and is optional. The Library section is usually required in every program, and it is used to define data, such as any input and output files and working variables. Finally, the Activity Definition section is where the programming logic is defined. This section is where all file processing, data manipulation, sorting, and reporting is programmed. Of course, the Activity Definition section is required in every Easytrieve program.
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