Indexed file and sorted file both are different concepts. When I asked in an interview many developers confused about it to tell right answer. These quick ideas help you understand well.
Indexed file Vs Sorted file
Indexed file
- Indexed files use a primary key field to identify the records of an original file in a database. A primary key field is a unique field. An indexed file consists of actual records sorted based on the primary key field value
- An indexed file also consists of alternate keys, which build the alternate index. Unlike primary keys, the alternate keys in an indexed file do not have actual records.
- The advantage of primary key field values is that because of the indexing of actual records, you require only one input-output operation to access records in an indexed file
Sorted file
- Sorting is the arrangement of the records of a file in ascending or descending order based on specific key data items
- For example, you can sort a file containing employee payroll records by employee identification number in ascending order. You can sort a file on more than one data item. Example ID and Department
- When you sort a sequential file, its records are stored on the hard disk and you can only access them serially. It is not possible to access all the records of a file simultaneously.
Also Read
- 3 GO TO Statements in COBOL absolutely to Avoid now
- COBOL multi dimensional array logic real approach to use in your project
- COBOL Indexed Vs Sort top differences you need to know
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