A DBCS function can be specified anywhere in the general formats that a DBCS identifier is permitted, and where the rules associated with the general formats do not specifically prohibit reference to functions, except as follows:
- As a receiving operand of any statement
- Where the rules associated with the general formats require the data item being referenced to have particular characteristics (such as class and category, usage, size, and permissible values) and the evaluation of the function according to its definition and the particular arguments specified would not have these characteristics.
A reference modification for a DBCS function is allowed. If reference modification is specified for a function, the evaluation of the reference modification takes place immediately after the evaluation of the function.
A DBCS function can be referenced as an argument for a function that allows a DBCS argument.