Get file creation date using a COBOL program.

[Anil]

Hello,

Is there a way to find out the creation date of a file used in a COBOL program? My team member said that, there isn't a way to do it directly from COBOL.

Any ideas please?

Thanks.

[nicc]

Not directly but you could perhaps call a Rexx program from your COBOL program.

[William Collins]

Why would you want to know? It is a fairly arbitrary thing.

[Anil]

I would like to obtain the date the file was created from the catalog so I could include it in the data being written to output.

[William Collins]

As long as it is for information only, not for any business use, yes?

[nicc]

Well, call a rexx program or call IDCAMS directly and parse its output.

[Anil]

As long as it is for information only, not for any business use, yes?

That's correct. But if it's a no, will the answer change for the approach?

[William Collins]

It would be plain stupid to use it for business purposes (JOBs will sometimes be re-run, and then you'd get a completely unexpected date, any formal testing would be nuts).

To get the date, for information only, IDCAMS is a viable choice.

[Anil]

It would be plain stupid to use it for business purposes (JOBs will sometimes be re-run, and then you'd get a completely unexpected date, any formal testing would be nuts).

To get the date, for information only, IDCAMS is a viable choice.

Thanks IDCAMS has worked for me.