The TYPE clause indicates that the data description of the subject of the
entry is specified by a user-defined data type. The user-defined data type
is defined using the TYPEDEF clause, which is described in TYPEDEF Clause.

>>-TYPE--type-name-1-------------------------------------------><
The following general rules apply:
- If type-name-1 (defined using the TYPEDEF clause) describes a group item,
then the subject of the TYPE clause is a group item whose subordinate elements
have the same names, descriptions, and hierarchies as the subordinate elements
of type-name-1.
Note: Since the subject of the TYPE clause may have
a level number as high as 49 and type-name-1 may be a group item with 49 levels,
the number of levels of this hierarchy may exceed 49. In fact, since descriptions
of type-names may reference other type-names, there is no limit to the number
of levels in this hierarchy.
- If a VALUE clause is specified in the data description of the subject
of the TYPE clause, any VALUE clause specified in the description of type-name-1
is ignored for this entry.
- The scoping rules for type names are similar to the scoping rules for
data names.
- Reference modification is not allowed for an elementary item that is
the subject of a TYPE clause.
- The description of type-name-1, including its subordinate data items,
cannot contain a LIKE clause that references the subject of the TYPE clause
(referencing type-name-1), or any group item to which the subject of the TYPE
clause is subordinate.
- The description of type-name-1, including its subordinate data items,
cannot contain a TYPE clause that references the record to which the subject
of the TYPE clause (that references type-name-1), is subordinate
For example,
A is a group item defined using the TYPEDEF clause. B is also a group item
defined using the TYPEDEF clause, but which also includes a subordinate item
of TYPE A. This being the case, the type definition for A cannot include items
of TYPE B.
- The subject of a TYPE clause cannot be renamed in whole, or in part.
- The subject of a TYPE clause cannot be redefined explicitly or implicitly.
- If the subject of a TYPE clause is subordinate to a group item, the data
description of the group item cannot contain the USAGE clause.
- The TYPE clause cannot occur in a data description entry with the BLANK
WHEN ZERO, FORMAT, JUSTIFIED, LIKE, PICTURE, REDEFINES, RENAMES, SIGN, SYNCHRONIZED,
or USAGE clause.
- The TYPE clause can be specified in a data description entry with the
EXTERNAL, GLOBAL, OCCURS, TYPEDEF, and VALUE clauses.
For more information about using the TYPE and TYPEDEF clauses, refer to
the IBM Rational Development Studio for i: ILE COBOL Programmer's Guide.