[Info-vax] Example of random access by record number on an RMS fixed record size, relative organization file?

[Arne Vajhøj]

On 9/21/2023 1:10 PM, gah4 wrote:
> On Thursday, September 21, 2023 at 5:19:50 AM UTC-7, bill wrote:
>> While ISAM may be less efficient relative files can waste a
>> lot of space. Space is allocated for empty records and back
>> in the good ole days disk space was premium and very expensive.
> 
> Relative files are convenient if your numbering system is already
> not sparse.
> 
> Otherwise, it is usually to make it a hash table, and hash the
> index before using it to read/write a record.

A hashing producing non sparse results will typical also
produce a lot of collisions requiring collision handling.

Arne