
Introduction to files
and filing
Objectives
• Describe how data is physically organized and accessed on serial,
sequential and randomly-organized files and databases (8).
• Define field, record, file and block (8.1).
• Compare file and record processing on different types of media
(8.2).
• Describe typical file labels and explain their use (8.3).
• Describe the organization and accessing of serial, sequential and
indexed sequential files (8.4).
A file is a collection of data that exists in the backing store of the computer in
the form of recorded number codes. The recording method will normally be
magnetic, using tape or disk, though som ...