Micro Focus Visual COBOL 2.3 Update 2 for Visual Studio 2015 > Programming > Data Access > Data Files > Data File Tools > Using the Data File Editor > Creating Data Files > Create a Non-indexed Data File

Create a Non-indexed Data File

Use this procedure to create a (record) sequential, line sequential, or relative data file. To create an indexed data file, see Create an Indexed Data File.

From the Data File Tools window, select File > New, or click (New File).
The New dialog box appears.
Select Data File, then click OK.
The Create New File dialog box appears.
In the Filename field, type the name of the data file.
Tip: You can specify:
- An absolute path: for example, c:\path\to\file\dat-name.dat.
- A relative path: for example, dat-name.dat. (The .dat file is created in the directory in which Data File Tools was started.)
- A Fileshare path: for example, $$FS-server-name\dat-name.dat.
If you are applying a structure file to the new data file, click Browse to the right of the Structure File (optional) field, then use the Open dialog box to navigate to and select a structure (.dfs) file.
If you do apply a structure file, the details within it are used to populate the File Details section.
If you have not applied a structure file, in the File Details section, click beside Organization, then select the organization for the file.
If the records will be of variable length, check Variable length records.
Specify the Min Length (only applicable for variable length records), and Max Length values.
Check Save details to save the file details.
If selected, a new filename.dfs file is created. In future, specify this file when opening the data file, so that the file details are retained.

Note: For certain file types, Save details is not available, because the details are stored in the file header of the data file instead.
Click Create File.
The file is created, then opened in the editor.