The correct answer is: A. a batch job
A batch job is a set of instructions that are executed together, usually without user interaction. Batch jobs are often used to process large amounts of data or to perform repetitive tasks.
A real-time job is a job that is executed immediately, as soon as the data is available. Real-time jobs are often used to process data that is constantly changing, such as stock market data or weather data.
An online job is a job that is executed while the user is interacting with the system. Online jobs are often used to process data that is entered by the user, such as a purchase order or a customer service request.
In the context of the question, the best process to access a number of records from the same file is a batch job. This is because a batch job can process large amounts of data quickly and efficiently. Additionally, a batch job can be scheduled to run at a time when the system is not busy, which can improve performance.
A real-time job is not the best option because it would require the system to be constantly available to process data. This would be inefficient and expensive.
An online job is not the best option because it would require the user to wait for the data to be processed. This would be inconvenient for the user.