COBOL Manual for TNS/E Programs (H06.08+, J06.03+)

contains-phrase-fixed
length-fixed
is an unsigned integer literal that specifies the exact length, in characters, of fixed-length
records. If the ASSIGN clause specifies $RECEIVE, the value of length-fixed is in the
range of 0 through 2,097,152 bytes (2MB). Otherwise, its value is in the range of 0 through
32,767 bytes.
«contains-phrase-range»
NOTE: The 1985 COBOL standard classifies contains-phrase-range as obsolete, so
you are advised not to use it. Instead, use a VARYING phrase of the form:
RECORD IS VARYING FROM length-min TO length-max
length-min
is an unsigned integer literal that specifies the minimum length, in characters, of
variable-length records. If the ASSIGN clause specifies $RECEIVE, the value of length-min
is in the range of 0 through 2,097,152 bytes (2MB). Otherwise, its value is in the range
of 0 through 32,767 bytes.
No record description entry for the file described with length-min can specify a number
of character positions less than the value of length-min.
When the RECORD clause appears in a data file description entry, no record key or
alternate record key defined for the file can be described as beginning after or extending
beyond the number of characters specified by length-min.
length-max
is an unsigned integer literal that specifies the maximum length, in characters, of
variable-length records. Its value must be greater than or equal to the value specified by
length-min (for the RECORD CONTAINS form of variable-length specification) or greater
than the value specified by length-min (for the RECORD VARYING form of variable-length
specification).
164 Data Division