Re: Windows/Macro Language Info?

Rather than quibble about whether utilities can do  things which a
COBOL program
could not do or whether some types of file have IDX files or not
consider this one
fact:

Having the backup created by a COBOL program ensures that the entire
file is readable by a COBOL program (like all of the other programs in
the
application) and is in good condition.  It can also drop
logically-deleted
records.

You can easily imagine a situation where due to some glitch or other
a data file had some of its sectors overwritten.  A randomly
accessed Product File, for example, could be damaged without
anyone knowing about it since the damaged sectors were not
accessed by the application.

Backing the file up with a system utility would not detect the damage
to the
file nor could it drop the logically-deleted records.  Backing it up
with
a COBOL program would do both.

That is why the COBOL way is the better way and my feeling that
that is so is not based on ignorance of other methods (to which
I freely and happily admit) but because it actually is  the better way.

Thanks
Tony Dilworth
.