Re: Re: MVT COBOL under MVS3.8j.

A side question about this compiler, not related
with the XREF problem.

I'm reading the IBM manuals about variable length
datasets.

I can't see a way to read a variable length record
and retrieve the length of the record at runtime,
like what is done in modern implementation of
mainframe COBOL compilers with a syntax like this:

FD  VREDDV01-FILE
            DATA RECORD    IS VREDDV01-REC
            RECORDING MODE IS V
            RECORD VARYING FROM 00001 TO 00080
            DEPENDING ON VREDDV01-LRECL,

The GC28-6399-2 manual claims , page 136:

Variable-length record descriptions, for
input and output files, must not define
space for the control bytes. Control bytes
are automatically provided when a record is
written and are not communicated to the
use when a file is read.

So, my question.

How were variable length records handled
at the time this compiler was in use?

Peppe.