COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs

ANSI Reference Format
HP COBOL Manual for TNS and TNS/R Programs—522555-006
16-2
Indicator Area
Indicator Area
The indicator area begins at Margin C and uses only column 7. It can be empty, or it
can contain a single character that describes the type of information on the line.
Compiler Directive
A compiler directive has a question mark (?) in the indicator area. If the question mark
is in column 1 instead of column 7, the compiler treats the line as if it begins with the
indicator area.
A compiler directive is an instruction to the COBOL compiler, and a compiler directive
line has no sequence number area. (For more information on compiler directives, see
Compiler Directives.)
Ordinary Comment
An ordinary comment has an asterisk (*) in the indicator area. A comment can appear
anywhere in a program. The compiler ignores it.
Comment for Top of Page
A comment to be printed at the top of the next page has a slash (/) in the indicator
area. Like an ordinary comment, this comment can appear anywhere in a program.
The compiler advances to the top of the next page and prints the comment at the top of
that page.
Debugging Line
A debugging line has D or d in the indicator area. If you run the program with
DEBUGGING MODE, the line is part of the program; otherwise, the line is a comment.
A debugging line cannot contain embedded SQL/MP or SQL/MX statements. For
information on DEBUGGING MODE, see SOURCE-COMPUTER Paragraph.
Table 16-1. Valid Indicator Area Characters (ANSI Reference Format)
Valid Character Character Name Indicates that the line is a …
? Question mark Compiler Directive
*AsteriskOrdinary Comment
/SlashComment for Top of Page
D Uppercase D Debugging Line
d Lowercase d Debugging Line
-HyphenContinuation Line