One problem is that circular files can't be read while they are open for
writing - but I got a tip off of this list several years ago - from Stan I
believe, that allows you to copy the circular file to a flat file that you
can then look at while the circular file is still open by another process.

 FILE XXEACX=MSGPRINT.HISTORY;ACC=APPEND;SHR
 COPY *XXEACX,XXEAC2
 PURGE XXEAC2 > $NULL
 COPY *XXEACX,XXEAC2

The first copy command fails, but the second one works.

Thanks Stan.

Jack


                -----Original Message-----
                From:   Curt Brimacomb [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
                Sent:   Wednesday, September 20, 2000 6:28 PM
                To:     [log in to unmask]
                Subject:        circular files-build, read, write to

                Hello all,

                I want to create a circular file (message file, logfile,
etc.?) that I can
                log program errors/messages into and have the file limit at
10,000.  What
                would the build command look like?

                Is there any special way that you have to open, write, and
close circular
                files using Cobol?

                Can you extract records from a circular file easily so that
they can be
                loaded into excel, lotus, access, etc.?

                Any help would be appreciated.

                Curt Brimacomb
                Systems Manager
                Idaho Computer Services, LLC
                [log in to unmask]
                208-734-2245 x 114
                The opinions expressed here are not mine or my employers.