6.2.35.1 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

6.2.35.1 KEY Phrase

When the KEY phrase is specified, the file position indicator is positioned at the logical record in the file whose key field satisfies the comparison.

When the KEY phrase is not specified, KEY IS EQUAL (to the prime record key) is implied.

X >_Workstation_> Under AIX, OS/2, and Windows, the following relational
X operators are allowed in the KEY phrase:


 X LESS THAN                               <
 X NOT GREATER THAN                        NOT >
 X LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO                   <=        <_Workstation_<

X If you specify the KEY to be 'less than', or 'less than or equal to' the
X data item, the file position indicator is positioned to the last logical
X record currently existing in the file satisfying the comparison.

X For an indexed file, if the key that satisfies the comparison has
X duplicate entries, the file position indicator is positioned to the last
X of these entries.

data-name-1

May be qualified; it may not be subscripted.

When the START statement is executed, a comparison is made between the current value in the key data-name and the corresponding key field in the file's index.

If the FILE STATUS clause is specified in the FILE-CONTROL entry, the associated status key is updated when the START statement is executed (See "Status Key" in topic 6.1.8.9.1).

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6.2.35.1 KEY Phrase

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