The times at which a locale is identified, and the scope of its effect
after being identified are:
When a run unit is activated, the default locale is identified and remains
the current locale for that run unit until it is changed within the run unit
by a SET statement. After the locale has been changed from the default, the
default can be made the current locale again by using the DEFAULT keyword
in Format 8 of the SET statement.
For the LOCALE-DATE and LOCALE-TIME intrinsic functions, the current locale
is identified at the beginning of each statement that references any of these
functions, and is used for the evaluation of the function during that statement.
For more information about these intrinsic functions, refer to the ILE COBOL for AS/400 Reference.
When a LOCALE phrase is used in a PICTURE clause or a FORMAT clause, and
the mnemonic-name-1 is not specified, the current
locale is identified once at the start of each statement that edits or de-edits
the data item.
Note:
Switching locales between the editing and de-editing
of a given data item can result in unpredictable behavior. You are responsible
for ensuring that the locale used for de-editing is the same as the locale
used for editing.
When a LOCALE phrase is used in a PICTURE clause or a FORMAT clause, and
mnemonic-name-1 is specified, the current locale is
the one associated with the mnemonic-name in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph.
It must be identified anytime before the first reference in a source unit
to a data item requiring its use. Its scope is that source unit.
For a SET statement, the locale specified in the FROM phrase becomes the
current locale for the run unit, until it is changed again by another SET
statement.
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