Re: [open-cobol-list] What is a level 77 piece of data

[John Culleton]

On Wednesday 05 August 2009 05:59:24 pm Duke Normandin wrote:
> I hope that I'm using the correct terminology - correct me
> otherwise...
>
> 000010 IDENTIFICATION DIVISION.
> 000020 PROGRAM-ID. addition.
> 000030 ENVIRONMENT DIVISION.
> 000040 DATA DIVISION.
> 000050 WORKING-STORAGE SECTION.
> 000060   77  myvar PIC 999.
>
> Does OC support "level 77" variables?
> What is the meaning of "level 77"?
> Is it legal to use lowercase var. names in OC? COBOL in general?
> Is it correct to write "level 77" vars in Area B?

Level 77 items have the following characteristics:
1. They only exist in WORKING STORAGE.
2. For trad layout the 77 goes in columns 8-9.
3. They are single data items with no subordinate structure, 
redefines etc. 
4. When used they come first in WORKING STORAGE.
5. They can have level 88 values attached to them. 
6. They are totally optional. A level 01 will work the same.  Their 
purpose is to make those stand alone  fields stand out from the 
rest.

I use them for switches, like:
123456 77  END-FILE- FLAG PICTURE X VALUE "N".
123457       88 END-FILE VALUE "Y".


-- 
John Culleton
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