Accessing Auxiliary Storage: FILE › BDAM Files › FILE Functions for BDAM Records › Browse a BDAM File

Browse a BDAM File

To browse a file, specify the BROWSE operation on the FILE definition.

1. Press PF4 or complete the FUNC= field as shown next:

   FUNC=BEGB
   

   and, if appropriate, complete the following optional fields:

   RCID= record identification where browse begins
   RETMETH=KEY       (Use if RCID contains a deblocking key)
   RETMETH=RELREC    (Use if RCID contains a deblocking relative record number)
   

2. Press Enter. The first record displays and the following information is on the FILE screen:
   • The MESSAGE= field shows the message BROWSE BEGUN
   • The MODE= field indicates BROWSE
   • The FUNC= field contains the function NEXT
3. To view the records in ascending sequence, complete the FUNC= field as shown following, and then press Enter:

   FUNC=NEXT
   

   The FILE display screen shows the next sequential record.

   Note: You cannot browse a BDAM file in descending sequence.
   To interrupt a browse operation to do something else, such as scroll the display, you must erase the FUNC= field.

4. There are two ways to terminate a browse operation: explicitly and implicitly.
   • To terminate a browse explicitly, press PF4 or specify the following, and press Enter:

     FUNC=ENDB
     

     The following information is on the FILE screen:

     • The MESSAGE= field shows the message BROWSE TERMINATED
     • The MODE= field becomes blank
   • To terminate a browse implicitly, specify one of the following entries and press Enter:

     FUNC=GET
     FUNC=GETU
     FUNC=ADDN
     FUNC=ADDU
     

   The information on the FILE screen reflects the function you selected.