The level-number specifies the hierarchy of data within a record, and identifies special-purpose data entries. A level-number begins a data description entry, a renamed or redefined item, or a condition-name entry. A level-number has an integer value between 1 and 49, inclusive, or one of the special level-number values 66, 77, or 88.
Format >>-level-number--+-------------+------------------------------->< +-data-name-1-+ '-FILLER------'
Level numbers 02 through 49 can begin in Areas A or B and must be followed by a space or a separator period.
Level numbers 66 and 88 can begin in Areas A or B and must be followed by a space.
Single-digit level-numbers 1 through 9 can be substituted for level-numbers 01 through 09.
Successive data description entries can start in the same column as the first entry or can be indented according to the level-number. Indentation does not affect the magnitude of a level-number.
When level-numbers are indented, each new level-number can begin any number of spaces to the right of Area A. The extent of indentation to the right is limited only by the width of Area B.
For more information, see Levels of data.
data-name-1, if specified, identifies a data item used in the program. data-name-1 must be the first word following the level-number.
The data item can be changed during program execution.
data-name-1 must be specified for level-66 and level-88 items. It must also be specified for any entry containing the GLOBAL or EXTERNAL clause, and for record description entries associated with file description entries that have the GLOBAL or EXTERNAL clauses.
The keyword FILLER can be used with a conditional variable if explicit reference is never made to the conditional variable but only to values that it can assume. FILLER cannot be used with a condition-name.
In a MOVE CORRESPONDING statement or in an ADD CORRESPONDING or SUBTRACT CORRESPONDING statement, FILLER items are ignored. In an INITIALIZE statement, elementary FILLER items are ignored.
If data-name-1 or the FILLER clause is omitted, the data item being described is treated as though FILLER had been specified.