The PADDING CHARACTER clause specifies the character which is to be used for block padding on sequential files.
The PADDING CHARACTER clause is syntax checked, but no compile-time or run-time verification checking is done, and the clause has no effect on the execution of the program.
PADDING CHARACTER Clause - Format (1) >>-PADDING------+-----------+--+----+--+-data-name-6-+--------->< '-CHARACTER-' '-IS-' '-literal-2---'
For EXTERNAL files, if data-name-6 is specified, it must reference an EXTERNAL data item.