How Easytrieve can read a VSAM file using only a partial key?
The functionality of partial keys is not supported within the product.
See below for a workaround to this.
Easytrieve Plus Report Generator, release 6.4
The above assumes that you understand your data and the consequences of using a partial key. Easytrieve does not recognize that a partial key is being used and, as with any programming language, the coding technique shown should be used with the understanding that partial keys are not supported with Easytrieve.
Example:
If a VSAM file key is defined as 26 and you want to read generically using the first 13 positions, then you must use a POINT with a 26 byte field with only the first 13 bytes filled in. Then, you would do a GET to obtain the record. You must test the first 13 bytes of that record obtained with the GET in order to make sure it is a match.