Example 6 Export file and import file with directory polling

This COBOL program illustrates how a series of XML documents may be placed in a specific directory and how directory polling may be used to process XML documents as they arrive in that specified directory. For more information on directory-polling schemes, see Directory Management Statements.

The program first writes (or exports) five XML document files from the content of a COBOL data item. Each document has a unique name and is written to the same directory. Then the program polls the directory looking for an XML document. When one is found, the program reads (or imports) each XML document and places the content in the COBOL data item.

This example uses the following XML statements:

• XML INITIALIZE, which initializes or opens a session with XML Extensions.
• XML EXPORT FILE, which constructs an XML document (as a file) from the content of a COBOL data item.
• XML IMPORT FILE, which reads an XML document (from a file) into a COBOL data item.
• XML TERMINATE, which terminates or closes the session with XML Extensions.
• XML GET UNIQUEID, which is used to generate a unique identifier that can be used to form a filename.
• XML FIND FILE, which finds a XML document file in the specified directory (if one is available).
• XML REMOVE FILE, which deletes a file.