5.3.10 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

5.3.10 OCCURS Clause

The Data Division clauses used for table handling are the OCCURS clause and USAGE IS INDEX clause. For the USAGE IS INDEX description, see "USAGE Clause" in topic 5.3.16.

The OCCURS clause specifies tables whose elements can be referred to by indexing or subscripting. It also eliminates the need for separate entries for repeated data items.

Formats for the OCCURS clause include fixed-length tables or variable-length tables.

The subject of an OCCURS clause is the data-name of the data item containing the OCCURS clause. Except for the OCCURS clause itself, data description clauses used with the subject apply to each occurrence of the item described.

Whenever the subject of an OCCURS clause or any data-item subordinate to it is referenced, it must be subscripted or indexed with the following exceptions:

When the subject of the OCCURS clause is used as the subject of a SEARCH statement.
When the subject or subordinate data item is the object of the ASCENDING/DESCENDING KEY clause.
When the subordinate data item is the object of the REDEFINES clause.

When subscripted or indexed, the subject refers to one occurrence within the table.

When not subscripted or indexed, the subject represents the entire table.

The OCCURS clause cannot be specified in a data description entry that:

Has a level number of 01, 66, 77, or 88.
Describes a redefined data item. (However, a redefined item can be subordinate to an item containing an OCCURS clause.) See "REDEFINES Clause" in topic 5.3.12.

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5.3.10 OCCURS Clause

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