Using "parent" and "child" files makes it possible to perform one LOAD for all degree programs for the entire catalog year.

The "parent" file is named 0405.REQ.  It is INTERPRETed to form 0405.ROB.

The parent file contains the TITLE and the DEGREE options, for ALL degrees in the 0405 catalog.  It also contains "Include" commands placed there to pull in the various degree requirement details during the INTERPRET procedure.

A bare-bones version of the 0405 requirements file is named 0405.TXT.  For a sample view, click here. This is what the 0405.REQ file looks like before any INCLUDE statements have been inserted during the INTERPRET procedure.

Details of the various O405 degree programs are contained in separate files, e.g., 0405BAED.REQ, 0405BSNAT.REQ.  These files are created or edited when necessary to add, modify or correct requirements.  These files (you can call them "child" files) do not need to be INTERPRETed separately.  They become part of the parent file.

After INTERPRET occurs, the 0405.REQ file displays the portions of INCLUDEd files surrounded by % signs.  For a sample viewing, click here.

Logicals are created upon login to point to the child files.  0405_baed (underscore is important) points to DEGSYS_EXE:[DEG.FILES]0405BAED.REQ, for example.