HP 3000 Manuals

Micro Focus COBOL Language Reference - Additional Topics

Data Division 

The USAGE Clause 

General Format.   

The following format of the USAGE clauseis supported:


            

Syntax Rules.   

   1.  COMPand COMPUTATIONALare synonymous.

   2.  COMP-0and COMPUTATIONAL-0are synonymous.

General Rules.   

   1.  COMPUTATIONALdata items are treated as external decimal items, if
       you set the MS system directive when you submit your source code
       to your COBOL system.

   2.  USAGE IS COMPUTATIONAL means the same as USAGE IS DISPLAY, if you
       set the MS system directive when you submit your source code to
       your COBOL system.

   3.  USAGE IS COMP-0is allowed only with numeric items.  If an item is
       described with a PICTURE no larger than S9(5), the effect is a
       data item whose description is PIC S9(4) USAGE COMP; that is, a
       2-byte signed binary item.  Otherwise, the effect is a data item
       with the PICTURE clause actually specified and with USAGE DISPLAY.

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation