6.2.4.4 "COBOL Language Reference" IBM Library Server

X 6.2.4.4 BY VALUE Phrase

X The BY VALUE phrase applies to all arguments that follow until overridden
X by another BY REFERENCE or BY CONTENT phrase.

X If the BY VALUE phrase is specified or implied for an argument, the value
X of the argument is passed, not a reference to the sending data item. The
X called program can modify the formal parameter corresponding to the BY
X VALUE argument, but any such changes do not affect the argument since the
X called program has access to a temporary copy of the sending data item.

X While BY VALUE arguments are primarily intended for communication with
X non-COBOL programs (such as C), they can also be used for COBOL-to-COBOL
X invocations. In this case, BY VALUE must be specified or implied for both
X the argument in the CALL USING phrase and the corresponding formal
X parameter in the Procedure Division USING phrase.

X identifier-4

X Must be an elementary data item in the Data Division. It must be one
X of the following:

X Binary (USAGE BINARY, COMP, COMP-4, or COMP-5)
X Floating point (USAGE COMP-1 or COMP-2)
X Pointer (USAGE POINTER)
X Procedure-pointer (USAGE PROCEDURE-POINTER)
X Object reference (USAGE OBJECT REFERENCE)
X Single-byte alphanumeric (such as PIC X or PIC A)

X The following can also be passed BY VALUE:

X Reference modified item with length one
X SHIFT-IN and SHIFT-OUT special registers
X LINAGE-COUNTER special register when it is usage binary

X ADDRESS OF Special Register

X An ADDRESS OF special register passed BY VALUE is treated as a
X pointer. For information on the ADDRESS OF special register, see
X "ADDRESS OF" in topic 1.1.3.1.

X LENGTH OF Special Register

X A LENGTH OF special register passed BY VALUE is treated as a PIC 9(9)
X binary. For information on the LENGTH OF special register, see
X "LENGTH OF" in topic 1.1.3.3.

X literal-3

X Must be one of the following:

X Numeric literal
X ZERO
X 1-character nonnumeric literal
X Symbolic character
X Single byte figurative constant
- X SPACE
- X QUOTE
- X HIGH-VALUE
- X LOW-VALUE

X ZERO is treated as a numeric value; a fullword binary zero is passed.

X If literal-3 is a fixed point numeric literal, it must have a
X precision of 9 or less digits. In this case, a fullword binary
X representation of the literal value is passed.

X If literal-3 is a floating point numeric literal, an 8-byte internal
X floating point (COMP-2) representation of the value is passed.

X Literal-3 must not be a DBCS literal.

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X 6.2.4.4 BY VALUE Phrase

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