IBM Extension

DBCS Literals

DBCS literals have the following format:

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram
Format

>>-G"--DBCS-literal--"-----------------------------------------><

Read syntax diagramSkip visual syntax diagram
Format

>>-N"--DBCS-literal--"-----------------------------------------><

G" or N"
The opening delimiter for a DBCS literal.
"
The closing delimiter for a DBCS literal.

When the NATIONALPICNLIT PROCESS option is in effect, the opening delimiter N" or N' identifies a national literal, and the rules specified in Basic National Literals apply.

In general, the rules for forming a nonnumeric literal also apply to DBCS literals. The maximum length of DBCS literals, however, is 28 double-byte characters, and they cannot be continued across lines.

DBCS literals can be specified in the Data Division:
DBCS literals can be specified in the Procedure Division:
DBCS literals can be specified wherever nonnumeric literals are allowed, except as a literal in the following:
End of IBM Extension