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

• Do not associate two identical condition-names with the same data item. If a word used as a

condition-name is also used to identify another program element, then it can be referenced if

and only if the associated data item can be referenced.

• Do not define two identical status condition-names within the same system-name clause of the

SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph. If a word used as a condition-name in such a clause is also used

to identify another program element, then the clause must also include a unique mnemonic-name

to serve as a reference qualifier.

• Do not put two identical paragraph-names in the same section. If a word used as a

paragraph-name is also used to identify another program element, then it can be referenced

if and only if its section can be referenced. Sections must have unique names if they are to

be referenced.

• Do not locate two identical text-names in the same COPY library.

Literals

A literal is a character-string that has a value implied by either of these:

• An ordered set of characters that compose the literal

• A figurative constant (a special type of reserved word)

Topics:

• Numeric literals

Decimal Numeric Literals◦

◦ Hexadecimal Numeric Literals

• Nonnumeric literals

Simple Nonnumeric Literals◦

◦ Hexadecimal Nonnumeric Literals

• National Literals

• Figurative Constants

Decimal Numeric Literals

A decimal numeric literal is a character-string that has the value of the sequence of its digits.

digits

is a string of one to 18 digits. The total number of digits in a decimal numeric literal cannot

exceed 18.

is a decimal point. It is a period (“.”) unless the program contains the DECIMAL POINT COMMA

phrase in the SPECIAL-NAMES paragraph, in which case it is a comma (“,”).

70 Language Elements