7.1.7+Fixed+and+Variable+length+Records

=**__Fixed and Variable length Records__**=

and how they are related to direct and sequential access methods.


 * A record consists of fields
 * every field has a data type
 * data types commonly are made up of fixed length of bits (usually 32)
 * The length of a record is calculated through the total number of bits in a record
 * A length of a general record is is 32 Bits +variable number of Bits + 64 Bits
 * Note: the general length is the same, but is dependent of the length of the central name.

The key difference between Fixed and Variable length Records is that the central "variable" length is...
 * in the __Fixed Length record__ is set to a certain length and the location is simply calculated
 * in the __Variable Length Record__ the record size is irrelevant because all records are indexed sequentially in a header record.

Created by: Daniel Gillo Last modification: 13th September 2011

Sources:
 * Jones, Richard. __Computer Science Java Enabled__. Victoria: IBID Press, 2004