CALL FILE

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# CALL FILE

#### Structured Mode Syntax

`CALL FILE` 'program-name' operand1 operand2
statement
`END-FILE`

#### Reporting Mode Syntax

`CALL FILE` 'program-name' operand1 operand2
statement
`LOOP`

This document covers the following topics:

- CALL FILE Usage

- CALL FILE Restrictions

- CALL FILE Syntax Description

- CALL FILE Example

For an explanation of the symbols used in the syntax diagram, see Syntax Symbols.

Related Statements: `CALL` | `CALL LOOP` | `CALLNAT` | `DEFINE SUBROUTINE` | `ESCAPE` | `FETCH` | `PERFORM`

Belongs to Function Group: Invoking Programs and Routines

## CALL FILE Usage

The `CALL FILE` statement is used to call a non-Natural program which reads a record from a non-Adabas file and returns the record to the Natural program for processing.

## CALL FILE Restrictions

The statements `AT BREAK`, `AT START OF DATA` and `AT END OF DATA` must not be used within a `CALL FILE` processing loop.

## CALL FILE Syntax Description

Operand Definition Table:

Operand | Possible Structure | Possible Formats | Referencing Permitted | Dynamic Definition
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
`operand1` |  | S | A |  |  | A | U | N | P | I | F | B | D | T | L | C |  |  | yes | yes
`operand2` |  | S | A | G |  | A | U | N | P | I | F | B | D | T | L | C |  |  | yes | yes

Syntax Element Description:

Syntax Element | Description
--- | ---
`'program-name'` | Program to be Called: The name of the non-Natural program to be called.
`operand1` | Control Field: `operand1` is used to provide control information.
`operand2` | Record Area: `operand2` defines the record area. The format of the record to be read can be described using field definitions (or `FILLER nX`) entries following the name of the first field in the record. The fields used to define the record format must not have been previously defined in the Natural program. This ensures that fields are allocated in the contiguous storage by Natural.
`statement ...` | Processing Loop: The `CALL FILE` statement initiates a processing loop which must be terminated with an `ESCAPE` or `STOP` statement. More than one `ESCAPE` statement may be specified to escape from a `CALL FILE` loop based on different conditions.
`END-FILE` | End of CALL FILE Statement: In structured mode, the Natural reserved keyword `END-FILE` must be used to end the `CALL FILE` statement. In reporting mode, the Natural statement `LOOP` is used to end the `CALL FILE` statement.
`LOOP`

## CALL FILE Example

#### Calling Program:

    ** Example 'CFIEX1': CALL FILE
    ************************************************************************
    DEFINE DATA LOCAL
    1 #CONTROL (A3)
    1 #RECORD
      2 #A     (A10)
      2 #B     (N3.2)
      2 #FILL1 (A3)
      2 #C     (P3.1)
    END-DEFINE
    *
    CALL FILE 'USER1' #CONTROL #RECORD
      IF #CONTROL = 'END'
        ESCAPE BOTTOM
      END-IF
    END-FILE
    /*****************************
    /* ... PROCESS RECORD ...
    /*****************************
    END

The byte layout of the record passed by the called program to the Natural program in the above example is as follows:

    CONTROL #A       #B   FILLER  #C
    (A3)   (A10)   (N3.2)  3X   (P3.1)

    xxx xxxxxxxxxx xxxxx   xxx   xxx

#### Called COBOL Program:

    ID DIVISION.
    PROGRAM-ID. USER1.
    ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
    INPUT-OUTPUT SECTION.
    FILE-CONTROL.
         SELECT USRFILE ASSIGN UT-S-FILEUSR.
    DATA DIVISION.
    FILE SECTION.
    FD   USRFILE RECORDING F LABEL RECORD OMITTED
         DATA RECORD DATA-IN.
    01   DATA-IN         PIC X(80).
    LINKAGE SECTION.
    01   CONTROL-FIELD   PIC XXX.
    01   RECORD-IN       PIC X(21).
    PROCEDURE DIVISION USING CONTROL-FIELD RECORD-IN.
    BEGIN.
         GO TO FILE-OPEN.
    FILE-OPEN.
         OPEN INPUT USRFILE
         MOVE SPACES TO CONTROL-FIELD.
         ALTER BEGIN TO PROCEED TO FILE-READ.
    FILE-READ.
         READ USRFILE INTO RECORD-IN
              AT END
              MOVE 'END' TO CONTROL-FIELD
              CLOSE USRFILE
              ALTER BEGIN TO PROCEED TO FILE-OPEN.
         GOBACK.

### On this page

- CALL FILE Usage
- CALL FILE Restrictions
- CALL FILE Syntax Description
- CALL FILE Example