The DATABASE = <file title> modifier causes FILEDATA to obtain information from a database file created in a previous run of FILEDATA instead of gathering the information from a disk or tape directory. A database file can be created by using the NEWDATABASE modifier.

The copy of FILEDATA that creates a database and the copy of FILEDATA that uses the database must be of the same system software release level or compatible system software release levels. If FILEDATA detects that the database file was created by an incompatible version of FILEDATA, then the following error message is printed:

DATABASE AND FILEDATA LEVELS ARE NOT COMPATIBLE

For the HEADERCONTENTS request to be used on an existing database, the database must contain raw disk file headers; otherwise, the following error message is printed:

DATABASE SPECIFIED DOES NOT CONTAIN RAW HEADERS