The text read off it
[03.02.07]
In the absence of any *POOL or *GROUP cards, the Loader will make its own assignments. These cards enable the user to make a more sophisticated assignment, based on knowledge of file use and activity.
G. *FILEQU Card
When separately compiled decks are combined, the loader must be told which files are common so that they can be processed as a single file. The names associated with a file at compile time are not available at load time; rather, files are identified by deck.name and file number. This identifying information is used on the *FILEQU to specify file equivalence. The form of the *FILEQU card is
1-6 7-13 16-72
deck.name *FILEQU file1,file2,...,filen
All files referenced on a *FILEQU card take on the processing characteristics of the first file referenced whose characteristics are defined by a *FILE card. File references may be of two forms:
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deck.name(file.no)
'deck.name' is the name of the referenced program segment in which the file appears (see deck.name in *FILE card) and 'file.no' is the identifying number of the file within the referenced deck.
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file.no
'file.no' identifies a file whose deck identification is that specified in columns 1-6 of the *FILEQU card. Note that all blanks in columns 1-6 of the *FILEQU card may be used as a legitimate qualifier for each specified 'file.no'.
As all files referenced on a *FILEQU card take the same processing characteristics as the first file mentioned, those processing characteristics may be altered by altering the content of the *FILE and *SPEC cards for that first file.
In case all of the equivalent files cannot be specified on a single card, additional cards may be used. At least one of the file references on the first card must appear on the subsequent cards.
H. *RETAINS Card
When several separately compiled programs are to be run as a single job, certain areas of procedure or data, referenced in the individual compilations must be identical. These areas must be specified in the Environment Description of each compiled job on CONTRL cards (see section 02.06). The extent and nature of the area is entered into the Control Break table of the compiled program together with the external reference name (ex.nm) as given on the CONTRL card. The Loader identifies the equivalence of these areas by means of the external reference names. In the absence of any other information, the area is assumed to be located in the first program segment containing the 'ex.nm' in its Control