The compiler must give a name to each XFD file that is built. The compiler attempts to build the name from your COBOL code, but in some instances the name in the code is nonspecific, and you must provide a name.
Each .xfd name is built from a starting name that is derived (if possible) from the SELECT statement in your COBOL code. The following table explains how that occurs.
| ASSIGN name is a variable | If the SELECT for the XFD file has a variable ASSIGN name (ASSIGN TO filename), you must specify a starting name for the .xfd file via a FILE directive in your code |
| ASSIGN name is a constant | If the SELECT for the XFD file has a constant ASSIGN name (such as ASSIGN TO "COMPFILE"), that name is used as the starting name for the .xfd file |
| ASSIGN name is generic | If the ASSIGN phrase refers to a generic device (such as ASSIGN TO "DISK"), the compiler uses the SELECT name as the starting name for the XFD |