X Recording Mode F (Fixed)

X All the records in a file are the same length and each is wholly
X contained within one block. Blocks can contain more than one record,
X and there is usually a fixed number of records for each block. In
X this mode, there are no record-length or block-descriptor fields.

X Recording Mode V (Variable)

X The records can be either fixed-length or variable-length, and each
X must be wholly contained within one block. Blocks can contain more
X than one record. Each data record includes a record-length field and
X each block includes a block-descriptor field. These fields are not
X described in the Data Division. They are each 4 bytes long and
X provision is automatically made for them. These fields are not
X available to you.

X Recording Mode U (Fixed or Variable)

X The records can be either fixed-length or variable-length. However,
X there is only one record for each block. There are no record-length
X or block-descriptor fields.

X Note: You cannot use RECORDING MODE U if you are using the BLOCK
X CONTAINS clause.

X Recording Mode S (Spanned)

X The records can be either fixed-length or variable-length, and can be
X larger than a block. If a record is larger than the remaining space
X in a block, a segment of the record is written to fill the block. The
X remainder of the record is stored in the next block (or blocks, if
X required). Only complete records are made available to you. Each
X segment of a record in a block, even if it is the entire record,
X includes a segment-descriptor field, and each block includes a
X block-descriptor field. These fields are not described in the Data
X Division; provision is automatically made for them. These fields are
X not available to you.

X F

The compiler determines the recording mode to be F if the largest
X level-01 record associated with the file is not greater than the block
X size specified in the BLOCK CONTAINS clause, and you do one of the
X following:

• X Use the RECORD CONTAINS integer clause (for more information, see
  X IBM COBOL for OS/390 & VM Compiler and Run-Time Migration Guide.)

• X Omit the RECORD clause and make sure all level-01 records
  X associated with the file are the same size and none contain an
  X OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause.

X V

The compiler determines the recording mode to be V if the largest
X level-01 record associated with the file is not greater than the block
X size specified in the BLOCK CONTAINS clause, and you do one of the
X following:

• X Use the RECORD IS VARYING clause

• X Omit the RECORD clause and make sure all level-01 records
  X associated with the file are not the same size or some contain an
  X OCCURS DEPENDING ON clause

• X Use the RECORD CONTAINS integer-1 TO integer-2 clause with
  X integer-1 the minimum length and integer-2 the maximum length of
  X the level-01 records associated with the file. The two integers
  X must be different, with values matching minimum and maximum length
  X of either different length records or record(s) with an OCCURS
  X DEPENDING ON clause.

X S

The compiler determines the recording mode to be S if the maximum
X block size is smaller than the largest record size.

X U

Recording mode U is never obtained by default. The RECORDING MODE U
X clause must be explicitly used.

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