___ Format _____________________________________________________________ 
   |                                                                        |
   | >>__RETURN__file-name-1__ ________ __ ____________________ __________> |
   |                          |_RECORD_|  |_INTO__identifier-1_|            |
   |                                                                        |
   | >__ ____ __END__imperative-statement-1_______________________________> |
   |    |_AT_|                                                              |
   |                                                                        |
   | >__ __________________________________________ __ ____________ _____>< |
   |    |_NOT__ ____ __END__imperative-statement-2_|  |_END-RETURN_|        |
   |           |_AT_|                                                       |
   |                                                                        |
   |________________________________________________________________________|

file-name-1

Must be described in a Data Division SD entry.

If more than one record description is associated with file-name-1, these records automatically share the same storage; that is, the area is implicitly redefined. After RETURN statement execution, only the contents of the current record are available; if any data items lie beyond the length of the current record, their contents are undefined.

INTO phrase

The result of the execution of a RETURN statement with the INTO phrase is equivalent to the application of the following rules in the order specified:

• The execution of the same RETURN statement without the INTO phrase.

• The current record is moved from the record area to the area specified by identifier-1 according to the rules for the MOVE statement without the CORRESPONDING phrase. The size of the current record is determined by rules specified for the RECORD clause. If the file description entry contains a RECORD IS VARYING clause, the implied move is a group move. The implied MOVE statement does not occur if the execution of the RETURN statement was unsuccessful. Any subscripting or reference modification associated with identifier-1 is evaluated after the record has been read and immediately before it is moved to the data item. The record is available in both the record area and the data item referenced by identifier-1.

• If only one record description is subordinate to the sort-merge file description entry

• If all record-names associated with file-name-1 and the data item referenced by identifier-1 describe a group item or an elementary alphanumeric item.

1. X If the file referenced by file-name-1 contains variable-length records
   X or, under OS/390 and VM, a QSAM file with RECORDING MODE 'S' or 'U', a
   X group move will take place.

2. X If the file referenced by file-name-1 contains fixed-length records,
   X the movement will take place according to the rules for the MOVE
   X statement, using, as a sending field description, the record that
   X specifies the largest number of character positions. If more than one
   X such record exists, the sending field record selected will be the one
   X among those records that appears first under the description of
   X file-name-1.

Subtopics:

• 6.2.30.1 AT END Phrases
• 6.2.30.2 END-RETURN Phrase

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