Problem:

Is there a way to place TYPEDEFs  where they would be useable for any of these sections FILE SECTION FDs, WORKING-STORAGE, or LINKAGE SECTION ,

Resolution:

Typedefs can be defined in an external program (or program prototype) which is placed before the main program and is therefore available to all sections. See example below.

program-id. mytypedefs is prototype.

working-storage

01  STD-KEY             PIC X(46) IS TYPEDEF.

end-program

program-id. myprogram.

file section.

FD ....

      ...  USAGE STD-KEY.

WORKING-STORAGE.

....