5.3.16.2 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

5.3.16.2 DISPLAY Phrase

The data item is stored in character form, 1 character for each 8-bit byte. This corresponds to the format used for printed output. DISPLAY can be explicit or implicit.

USAGE IS DISPLAY is valid for the following types of items:

Alphabetic
Alphanumeric
Alphanumeric-edited
Numeric-edited
X External floating-point
External decimal (numeric)

Alphabetic, alphanumeric, alphanumeric-edited, and numeric-edited items are discussed in "Data Categories and PICTURE Rules" in topic 5.3.11.3.

External Decimal Items are sometimes referred to as zoned decimal items. Each digit of a number is represented by a single byte. The 4 high-order bits of each byte are zone bits; the 4 high-order bits of the low-order byte represent the sign of the item. The 4 low-order bits of each byte contain the value of the digit.

The maximum length of an external decimal item is 18 digits.

The PICTURE character-string of an external decimal item can contain only 9s; the operational-sign, S; the assumed decimal point, V; and one or more Ps.

X Effect of CHAR(EBCDIC) Compiler Option (Workstation Only): Character data
X items are treated as EBCDIC when the CHAR(EBCDIC) option is used, unless
X the character data is defined with the NATIVE phrase. Also note, group
X items are affected by the CHAR options as well. A group item is treated
X as a USAGE DISPLAY item and consists of either native single byte
X characters (with CHAR(NATIVE)) or EBCDIC characters (with CHAR(EBCDIC)).
X Any USAGE clause specified on a group applies to the elementary items
X within the group and not to the group itself for the purpose of defining
X semantics involving group items.

X Command-line arguments are always passed in as native data types. If you
X specify the host data type compiler options (CHAR(EBCDID), FLOAT(HEX), or
X BINARY(S390)), you must specify the NATIVE phrase on any arguments with
X data types affected by these compiler options.

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5.3.16.2 DISPLAY Phrase

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