ILE COBOL Language Reference


VALUE Clause

The VALUE clause specifies the initial contents of a data item or the value(s) associated with a condition-name.

The VALUE clause has three formats:

The use of the VALUE clause differs depending on the Data Division section in which it is specified.

+-------------------------------IBM Extension--------------------------------+

In the Linkage section, a VALUE clause used in entries other than condition-names is treated as a comment.

+----------------------------End of IBM Extension----------------------------+

In the File and Linkage sections, the VALUE clause must be used only in condition-name and type-name entries. In the Working-Storage and Local-Storage Sections, the VALUE clause may be used in condition-name entries, type-name entries, or in specifying the initial value of any data item. The data item assumes the specified value at the beginning of program execution. If the initial value is not explicitly specified, it is unpredictable.


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