5.3.17.1 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

5.3.17.1 Format 1


    ___ Format 1--Literal Value ____________________________________________ 
   |                                                                        |
   | >>__VALUE__ ____ __literal__________________________________________>< |
   |            |_IS_|                                                      |
   |                                                                        |
   |________________________________________________________________________|

Format 1 specifies the initial value of a data item. Initialization is independent of any BLANK WHEN ZERO or JUSTIFIED clause specified.

A format 1 VALUE clause specified in a data description entry that contains or is subordinate to an OCCURS clause causes every occurrence of the associated data item to be assigned the specified value. Each structure that contains the DEPENDING ON phrase of the OCCURS clause is assumed to contain the maximum number of occurrences for the purposes of VALUE initialization.

The VALUE clause must not be specified for a data description entry that contains, or is subordinate to, an entry containing either an EXTERNAL or a REDEFINES clause. This rule does not apply to condition-name entries.

If the VALUE clause is specified at the group level, the literal must be a nonnumeric literal or a figurative constant. The group area is initialized without consideration for the subordinate entries within this group. In addition, the VALUE clause must not be specified for subordinate entries within this group.

For group entries, the VALUE clause must not be specified if the entry also contains any of the following clauses: JUSTIFIED, SYNCHRONIZED, or USAGE (other than USAGE DISPLAY).

The VALUE clause must not conflict with other clauses in the data description entry, or in the data description of this entry's hierarchy.

X Any VALUE clause associated with COMPUTATIONAL-1 or COMPUTATIONAL-2
X (internal floating-point) items must specify a floating-point literal.
X The condition-name VALUE phrase must also specify a floating-point
X literal. In addition, the figurative constant ZERO and both integer and
X decimal forms of the zero literal can be specified in a floating-point
X VALUE clause or condition-name VALUE phrase.

X For information on floating-point literal values, see "Rules for
X Floating-point Literal Values:" in topic 1.1.4.2.1.

X A VALUE clause cannot be specified for external floating-point items.

X A VALUE clause associated with a DBCS item must contain a DBCS literal or
X the figurative constant SPACE.

X A data item cannot contain a VALUE clause if the prior data item contains
X a OCCURS clause with the DEPENDING ON phrase.

Subtopics:

5.3.17.1.1 Rules for Literal Values:

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5.3.17.1 Format 1

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