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

• Numeric data items
If an item is in the numeric category, all literals in the VALUE clause must be numeric literals
or figurative constants ZERO, ZEROS, or ZEROES (the keyword ALL cannot appear in this
context), and they must be in the range of values set by the PICTURE character-string of the
conditional variable. A signed numeric literal only applies to a signed numeric conditional
variable.
A numeric literal must not have a value that would require the truncation of nonzero digits;
therefore, the number of significant fraction digits in the numeric literal cannot exceed the
number of fraction digits in the data item, and the number of significant integral digits in the
numeric literal cannot exceed the number of integral digits in the data item.
• Nonnumeric data items
If an item is not in the numeric category, all literals of VALUE must be nonnumeric literals or
figurative constants (the ALL form of figurative constant is legal in this context), and must not
exceed the size of the conditional variable.
• Multiple Values
More than one value or a range of values can be given for a condition-name entry. Whenever
THROUGH is used, the left-hand literal must be less than the right-hand literal.
• Overlap
The values of different condition-names associated with the same conditional variable are
permitted to overlap; therefore, it is possible to construct sets of condition names associated
with one conditional variable in which more than one condition-name has the same truth value.
226 Data Division