HP 3000 Manuals

COBOL/HP-UX Language Reference for the Series 700 and 800

Data Division 

The USAGE Clause 

General Format 

The following format of the USAGE clause is supported:


            

Syntax Rules 

   1.  COMP and COMPUTATIONAL are synonymous.

   2.  COMP-0 and COMPUTATIONAL-0 are synonymous.

General Rules 

   1.  COMPUTATIONAL data items are treated as external decimal items, if
       you set the MS system directive when you submit your source code
       to your COBOL system.

   2.  USAGE IS COMPUTATIONAL means the same as USAGE IS DISPLAY, if you
       set the MS system directive when you submit your source code to
       your COBOL system.

   3.  USAGE IS COMP-0 is allowed only with numeric items.  If an item is
       described with a PICTURE no larger than S9(5), the effect is a
       data item whose description is PIC S9(4) USAGE COMP; that is, a
       2-byte signed binary item.  Otherwise, the effect is a data item
       with the PICTURE clause actually specified and with USAGE DISPLAY.

MPE/iX 5.0 Documentation