USAGE(*INPUT *OUTPUT *UPDATE *DELETE)

The USAGE keyword is used in a free-form file definition to specify the way the file can be used.

The USAGE keyword is optional, but if it is specified, it must have at least one parameter.

*INPUT : input

*OUTPUT : output

*UPDATE : input and update

*DELETE : input, update, and delete

Some values imply more than one usage. For example, *UPDATE implies both input and update. The following USAGE keywords have the same meaning:

 USAGE(*INPUT : *UPDATE)
 USAGE(*UPDATE)

The default usage for a file depends on the device-type of the file.

• For a file with device-type DISK, SEQ, or SPECIAL, the default usage is *INPUT.
• For a file with device-type PRINTER, the default usage is *OUTPUT.
• For a file with device-type WORKSTN, the default usage is *INPUT and *OUTPUT.