Rational Developer for System z
Enterprise COBOL for z/OS, Version 4.1, Language Reference


Levels of data in a record description entry

Each group and elementary item in a record requires a separate entry, and each must be assigned a level-number.

A level-number is a one-digit or two-digit integer between 01 and 49, or one of three special level-numbers: 66, 77, or 88. The following level-numbers are used to structure records:

01
This level-number specifies the record itself, and is the most inclusive level-number possible. A level-01 entry can be either an alphanumeric group item, a national group item, or an elementary item. The level number must begin in Area A.
02 through 49
These level-numbers specify group and elementary items within a record. They can begin in Area A or Area B. Less inclusive data items are assigned higher (not necessarily consecutive) level-numbers in this series.

The relationship between level-numbers within a group item defines the hierarchy of data within that group.

A group item includes all group and elementary items that follow it until a level-number less than or equal to the level-number of that group is encountered.

The following figure illustrates a group wherein all groups immediately subordinate to the level-01 entry have the same level-number.

This figure shows a record description that has subordinate groups and elementary items. The storage layout of items within groups is shown.

You can also define groups with subordinate items that have different level-numbers for the same level in the hierarchy. For example, 05 EMPLOYEE-NAME and 04 EMPLOYEE-ADDRESS in EMPLOYEE-RECORD below define the same level in the hierarchy. The compiler renumbers the levels in a relative fashion, as shown in MAP output.

01   EMPLOYEE-RECORD.
     05  EMPLOYEE-NAME.
         10  FIRST-NAME PICTURE  X(10).
         10  LAST-NAME  PICTURE  X(10).
     04  EMPLOYEE-ADDRESS.
         08  STREET     PICTURE  X(10).
         08  CITY       PICTURE  X(10).

The following record description entry defines the same data hierarchy as the preceding record description entry:

01   EMPLOYEE-RECORD.
     02  EMPLOYEE-NAME.
         03  FIRST-NAME PICTURE  X(10).
         03  LAST-NAME  PICTURE  X(10).
     02  EMPLOYEE-ADDRESS.
         03  STREET     PICTURE  X(10).
         03  CITY       PICTURE  X(10).

Elementary items can be specified at any level within the hierarchy.


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