Problem:

How to search for files with a certain extension (e.g. *.cbl) in a directory using a Cobol program.

Resolution:

Use the X'91' function 69 routine. A loop can be used to retrieve many matched files as shown in the excerpt of code below:

[...]

   move 'd:\\dir\\*.cbl' to f-filein

   move spaces to f-fileout

   call x'91' using f-result,

                          function-code, *>69

                         f-parameters.

   move 1 to f-action

   perform search-files until f-error = 1 or 2

[...]

search-files.

   if f-attrout >= 32

      display f-fileout

   end-if

   move spaces f-fileout

   call x'91' using f-result,

                          function-code, *>69

                         f-parameters

   .

[...]

Note: If the file's attribute Archive has been cleared, the value of f-attrout would be zero. This could be something to be considered as a backup software could turn this option off.